Effect of artificial carbon dioxide bathing on red blood cell viscosity.
- VernacularTitle:赤血球粘度におよぼす人工炭酸泉浴の効果
- Author:
Takuo SHIRAKURA
;
Hitoshi KURABAYASHI
;
Jun-ichi TAMURA
;
Kazuo KUBOTA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
MCV
- From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine
1988;51(2):78-82
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Many researchers have pointed out that CO2 bathing directly effects expanding dermal vessels. To clarify the effect of CO2 bathing on red blood cell (RBC), the change of RBC viscosity after single bathing(for 10 minutes at 40°C) with artificial CO2 water made of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid dissolved in plain water was investigated. RBC viscosity was measured at both shear rates of 0.0439 (low) and 94.5 (high) sec-1 using a viscosimeter (Low Shear 30 made by Contraves). The subjects of this study consisted of three male patients and three female patients with a history of cerebro-vascular disease and ranging from 53 to 80 years old.
The results are presented below.
1) On the twenty-first day of serial CO2 bathings, a significant decrease in RBC viscosity was found in these patients as compared with that in controls who were subjected to bathing with plain water. However, it was not found on the first day. RBC viscosity of the blood sample that has an elevated PCO2 due to the CO2 gas bubbled into it was measured in relation with the PCO2. RBC viscosity decreased gradually at both shear rates as the PCO2 was elevated and the MCV increased.
2) MCV increased significantly after single bathing on the twenty-first day of serial CO2 baths as compared to that of controls who were subjected to bathing with plain water.
3) ATP concentration in RBC decreased significantly after single bathing as compared to that before bathing.
From these results, we can conclude that serial CO2 baths effectively decrease RBC viscosity due to the increase in MCV, which is attained by CO2 through “chloride shift.”
