Morphology of stored, rejuvenated human erythrocytes.

Whole blood was stored at 4 degrees C for 42 days. At 7-day intervals, starting with day 21, aliquots were rejuvenated with a phosphate, inosine, glucose pyruvate, and adenine solution. Samples were taken for ATP assays and red cell morphology (by SEM) both before and after rejuvenation. Rejuvenation elevated all ATP levels in excess of 100% of the starting values and significantly increased the percent of cells in the discoid shape as measured by their morphological index, showing that rejuvenation not only raises the cell's metabolic level but causes partial reversion to fresh cell morphology.