Studies on in vitro effect of free fatty acids on water content and osmotic fragility of rabbit (Lepus cuniculus) erythrocytes

The effects of free fatty acids in the blood on osmotic fragility and water content of erythrocytes when combined with hyperthermia were investigated. The isotonic buffer, containing the fatty acid, was added to the erythrocyte suspension to a final concentration of 200 mu M/L. The samples were kept for one hour in an incubator at 37 degrees C or 42 degrees C. The osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was determined by coil planet centrifuge system and intracellular water content was measured by gas-liquid chromatography. A high concentration of unsaturated fatty acid and hyperthermia caused the increase in intracellular water and the decrease in osmotic resistance of the red blood cells compared to saturated fatty acid and the control. The present experiment demonstrated that unsaturated fatty acid was one of the principal chemical and metabolic factors which caused sports anemia.