Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Interaction of Living Red Blood Cells

  • Chapter
Biological Coherence and Response to External Stimuli

Abstract

Shed human blood clots in a minute or so; that is the fluid turns into a jelly. If a clot is examined by microscope the red cells (erythrocytes), which outnumber the white cells a thousand times, are not oriented at random but display a pseudostructure. Red cells are biconcave discs 8 micrometres in diameter and the thickness of the rounded rim of the disc is about 2 micrometres. There is some spread in these dimensions in a single sample of blood. The pseudostructure comprises a stacking of the discs face to face, superimposed on a random packing of the stacks. This so-called rouleau-formation has been observed and studied for over a century (Fahraeus 1929; Rowlands and Skibo 1972).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Berne BJ, Pecora R (1976) Dynamic light scattering. John Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Born GVR (1977) Fluid-mechanical and biochemical interactions. In: Thomas D (ed) Haemostasis. Br Med Bull 33: 193–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Born GVR, Görög P, Kratzer MAA (1981) Aggregation of platelets in damaged vessels. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B294: 241–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canham PB, Burton AC (1968) Distribution of size and shape in populations of normal human red cells. Circ Res 22:405–422 Chandrasekhar S (1943) Stochastic problems in physics and astronomy. Rev Mod Phys 15: 1–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiabrera A, Nicolini C, Schwan HP (1985) Interactions between electromagnetic fields and cells. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clegg JS (1983) Intracellular water, metabolism and cell architecture. In: Fröhlich H, Kremer F (eds) Coherent excitations in biological systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 162–177

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Del Giudice E, Doglia S, Milani M (1985) Ordered structures as a result of the propagation of coherent electric waves in living systems. In: Chiabrera A, Nicolini C, Schwan HP (eds) Interactions between electromagnetic fields and cells. Plenum, New York, pp 157–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Einstein A (1926) Investigations on the theory of the Brownian movement. Transl. and ed. By Fürth R, Dover Publications, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Enns EG, Fung TS, Rowlands S, Sewchand LS (1983) Planar Brownian motion in the presence of an attractive force. Cell Biophys 5: 189–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Fähraeus R (1929) The suspension stability of blood. Physiol Rev 9: 241–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz OG (1984) Anomalous diffusion of erythrocytes in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Biophys J 46: 219–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fröhlich H (1980) The biological effects of microwaves and related questions. Adv Electron. Electron Phys 53: 85–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyams J (1981) Hooked on microtubules. Nature 291: 107–108

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jay AWL, Rowlands S (1975) The stages of osmotic haemolysis. J Physiol (Lond) 252: 817–832

    Google Scholar 

  • Ling GN (1983) Studies on the physical state of water in living cells and model systems. III. The high osmotic pressure of aqueous solutions of gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone and poly (ethylene oxide) and their relation to the reduced solubility for Na, sugars and free amino acids. Physiol Chem Phys 15: 155–165

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ling GN, Murphy RC (1983) Studies on the physical state of water in living cells and model systems. II. NMR relaxation times of water protons in aqueous solutions of gelatin and oxygen- containing polymers which reduce the solvency of water for Na, sugars and free amino acids. Physiol Chem Phys 15: 137–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Ling GN, Ochsenfeld MM (1983) Studies on the physical state of water in living cells and model systems. I. The quantitative relationship between the concentration of gelatin and certain oxygen-containing polymers and their influence upon the solubility of water for Na salts. Physiol Chem Phys 15: 127–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Ling GN, Zhang ZL (1983) Studies on the physical state of water in living cells and model systems. IV. Freezing and thawing point depression of water by gelatin, oxygen-containing polymers and urea-denatured proteins. Physiol Chem Phys 15: 391–406

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ling GN, Miller C, Ochsenfeld MM (1973) The physical state of solutes and water in living cells according to the association-induction hypothesis. Ann NY Acad Sci 204: 6–50

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Masri MA, Masri SA, Boyd NG (1983) Isolation of human fibrinogen of high purity and in high yield using polyethylene glycol 1000. Thromb Haemostas 49: 116–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagele RG, Roisen FJ (1982) Ultrastructure of a new microtubule-neurofilament coupler in nerves. Brain Res 253: 31–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overbeek JTG (1952) Colloid Science Vol 1. Kruyt HR (ed) Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul R,Chatterjee R, TuszyÅ„ski JA, Fritz OG (1983) Theory of long-range coherence in biological systems. I. The anomalous behaviour of human erythrocytes. J Theor Biol 104: 169–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pohl HA (1980) Oscillating fields about growing cells. Int J Quantum Chem 7: 411–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Pohl HA (1981) Natural electrical RF oscillation from cells. J Bioenerg Biomembr 13: 149–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S (1966) In: Rotblat J (ed) Aspects of medical physics. Taylor and Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S (1983a) In: Fröhlich H, Kremer F (eds) Coherent excitations in biological systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S (1983b) Some physics aspects for 21st century biologists. J Biol Phys 11: 117–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S (1985) Quantum mechanical coherence in human red blood cells. J Statis Phys 39: 543–549

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Skibo L (1972) The morphology of red cell aggregates. Thromb Res 1: 47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Sewchand LS, Lovlin RE, Beck JS, Enns EG (1981) A Fröhlich interaction of human erythrocytes. Phys Lett 82A: 436–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Sewchand LS, Enns EG (1982a) A quantum mechanical interaction of human erythrocytes. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 60: 52–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Sewchand LS, Enns EG (1982b) Further evidence for a Fröhlich interaction of erythrocytes. Phys Lett 87A: 256–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Eisenberg CP, Sewchand LS (1983a) Contractils: quantum mechanical fibrils. J Biol Phys 11: 1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Sewchand LS, Skibo L (1983b) Conversion of albumin into a transmitter of the ultra long-range interaction of human erythrocytes. Cell Biophys 5: 197–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands S, Skibo L, Eisenberg CP, Sewchand LS (1984) Triple contractils. J Biol Phys 12: 31–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott AC (1981) In: Enns RH, Jones BL, Miura RM, Rangneker SS (eds) Nonlinear phenomena in physics and biology. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Bruckschwaiger D (1980) Observed differences in dextran and polyvinylpyrrolidone as rouleaux-inducing agents. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 58: 271–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Canham PB (1976) Induced rouleaux formation in interspecies populations of red cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 54: 437–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Rowlands S (1983) Specificity of the Fröhlich interaction of erythrocytes. Phys Lett 93A: 363–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Rowlands S, Lovlin RE (1982a) Resistance to the Brownian movement of red blood cells on flat horizontal surfaces. Cell Biophys 4: 41–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Roberts D, Rowlands S (1982b) Transmission of the quantum mechanical interaction of erythrocytes. Cell Biophys 4: 253–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sewchand LS, Masri MA, Fritz OG, Boyd NG, Rowlands S (1984) Fibrinogen and the ultra long-range interaction of human erythrocytes. Cell Biophys 6: 215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZL, Ling GN (1983) Studies on the physical state of water in living cells and model systems. V. The warming exothermic reaction of frozen aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(ethylene oxide) and urea-denatured proteins. Physiol Chem Phys 15: 407–415

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada

    S. Rowlands (Emeritus Professor)

Authors
  1. S. Rowlands
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Oliver Lodge Laboratory, Oxford Street, L69 3BX, Liverpool, England

    Herbert Fröhlich

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rowlands, S. (1988). The Interaction of Living Red Blood Cells. In: Fröhlich, H. (eds) Biological Coherence and Response to External Stimuli. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73309-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73309-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73311-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73309-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation