Adenine in Blood Preservation: Posttransfusion Viability and Biochemical Changes

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Abstract
Posttransfusion viability was studied in red blood cells stored for 21 days in ACD solution and for 35 days in ACD solution supplemented with adenine to a final concentration of 0.5 mM. The survival of radio‐chromium‐labeled red cells was determined after transfusion of 10 ml. of autologous blood and 350–400 ml. homologous blood. The viability values were about the same for the two transfusion procedures. The mean posttransfusion viability was 80 per cent for erythrocytes stored for 35 days in the medium containing adenine and 79 per cent for cells preserved in ACD solution for 21 days.The concentration in the erythrocytes of ATP, ADP, AMP, reduced and oxidized glutathione, 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate, and four glycolytic enzymes was measured before and after storage in the two media. The ATP and the total adenine nucleotide concentrations were much higher in the red cells stored in the adenine‐containing solution. Of the enzymes tested, only phosphofructokinase decreased in activity during 35 days of storage. The decrease was about 50 per cent and was not dependent on the storage solution.This study supports the theory that decreased adenine supply is an important cause of damage to erythrocytes in ACD solution.