Blood and plasma viscosity of winter flounder: influence of temperature, red cell concentration, and shear rate

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Abstract
The effects of temperature, red cell concentration, and shear rate on the viscosity of blood from the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) were evaluated using a cone-plate viscometer. The viscosity of blood and plasma was shear rate dependent at all temperatures studied (−1 to 20 °C) with the highest values occurring at the lowest temperature and shear rate. At normal hematocrits (20%), plasma appeared to account for at least 50% of the total blood viscosity. The effects of hematocrit on viscosity were dependent on temperature. At higher temperatures (10–20 °C), increases in hematocrit resulted in a near-exponential increase in viscosity. At lower temperatures (5 °C) and shear rates (4.5 s−1) no significant increase in viscosity occurred between hematocrits of 11 and 43%. The influence of temperature and shear rate on blood viscosity suggest that winter flounder may have to contend with a fivefold increase in blood viscosity when acclimating from summer to winter water temperatures.