Biophysical Journal 39: 83-89 (1982)
© 1982 the Biophysical Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hochmuth, R M Articles by McCown, J T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hochmuth, R M Articles by McCown, J T

Extensional flow of erythrocyte membrane from cell body to elastic tether. II. Experiment.

ABSTRACT

This is the second of two papers on an analytical and experimental study of the flow of erythrocyte membrane. In the experiments discussed here, preswollen human erythrocytes are sphered by aspirating a portion of the cell membrane into a small micropipette; and long, thin, membrane filaments or tethers are steadily withdrawn from the cell at a point diametrically opposite to the point of aspiration. The aspirated portion of the membrane furnishes a reservoir of material that replaces the membrane as it flows as a liquid from the nearly spherical cell body to the cylindrical tether. The application of the principle of conservation of mass permits the tether radius Rt to be measured with the light microscope as the tether is formed and extended at a constant rate. The tether behaves as an elastic solid such that the tether radius decreases as the force or axial tension acting on the tether is increased. For the range of values for Rt is these experiments (100 A less than or equal to Rt less than or equal to 200 A), the slope of the tether-force, tether-radius line is -1.32 dyn/cm. The surface viscosity of the membrane as it flows from cell body to tether is 3 x 10(-3) dyn.s/cm. This viscosity is essentially constant for characteristic rates of deformation between 10 and 200 s-1.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Borghi and F. Brochard-Wyart Tether Extrusion from Red Blood Cells: Integral Proteins Unbinding from Cytoskeleton Biophys. J., August 15, 2007; 93(4): 1369 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Girdhar, Y. Chen, and J.-Y. Shao Double-Tether Extraction from Human Umbilical Vein and Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells Biophys. J., February 1, 2007; 92(3): 1035 - 1045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Brochard-Wyart, N. Borghi, D. Cuvelier, and P. Nassoy Hydrodynamic narrowing of tubes extruded from cells PNAS, May 16, 2006; 103(20): 7660 - 7663. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. Murdock, S. A. Ermilov, A. A. Spector, A. S. Popel, W. E. Brownell, and B. Anvari Effects of Chlorpromazine on Mechanical Properties of the Outer Hair Cell Plasma Membrane Biophys. J., December 1, 2005; 89(6): 4090 - 4095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Xu and J.-Y. Shao Double Tether Extraction from Human Neutrophils and Its Comparison with CD4+ T-Lymphocytes Biophys. J., January 1, 2005; 88(1): 661 - 669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Pierrat, F. Brochard-Wyart, and P. Nassoy Enforced Detachment of Red Blood Cells Adhering to Surfaces: Statics and Dynamics Biophys. J., October 1, 2004; 87(4): 2855 - 2869. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Hochmuth and W. D. Marcus Membrane Tethers Formed from Blood Cells with Available Area and Determination of Their Adhesion Energy Biophys. J., June 1, 2002; 82(6): 2964 - 2969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Waugh, A. Mantalaris, R. G. Bauserman, W. C. Hwang, and J. H. D. Wu Membrane instability in late-stage erythropoiesis Blood, March 15, 2001; 97(6): 1869 - 1875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Hochmuth, C. Evans, H. Wiles, and J. McCown Mechanical measurement of red cell membrane thickness Science, April 1, 1983; 220(4592): 101 - 102. [Abstract] [PDF]