Freeze Dried Red Blood Cells and Platelets.
Abstract
Blood is a major tissue of the human body, and has a predominant role in the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to peripheral tissues. This role is carried out by erythrocytes, i.e., red blood cells (RBC). The oxygen is furnished to the peripheral cells from the lungs by an exchange-diffusion system brought about by a red, iron-containing protein called hemoglobin. When hemoglobin combines with oxygen, oxyhemoglobin is formed and after oxygen is given up to the tissues, the oxyhemoglobin is reduced to deoxyhemoglobin. The red cell membrane is composed of two major structural units, the membrane bilayer and a cytoskeleton. A lipid bilayer and integral membrane proteins form the membrane bilayer. The other major component, the membrane skeleton, stabilizes the membrane bilayer and provides shape and structural integrity. The cytoskeleton is linked to the bilayer in the erythrocyte membrane by lipid-protein as well as protein-protein associations. The hemoglobin, and other RBC components such as glycolytic enzymes, are contained within the red cell membrane.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADD017689
Entities
People
- Barry J. Spargo
Organizations
- United States Department of the Navy