Thermomechanical properties of bat and human red blood cells-Implications for hibernation.

ABSTRACT: Hibernation is a widespread and highly efficient mechanism to save energy in mammals. However, one major challenge of hibernation is maintaining blood circulation at low body temperatures, which strongly depends on the viscoelastic properties of red blood cells (RBCs). Here, we examined at physiologically relevant timescales the thermomechanical properties of hundreds of thousands of individual RBCs from the hibernating common noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), the nonhibernating Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), and humans (Homo sapiens). We exposed RBCs to temperatures encountered during normothermia and hibernation and found a significant increase in elasticity and viscosity with decreasing temperatures. Our data demonstrate that temperature adjustment of RBC

SUBMITTER: Fregin B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11513926 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature