Animal species differences in erythrocyte aggregability.

Species differences in erythrocyte aggregability were investigated employing our whole blood erythrocyte aggregometer. Blood was sampled from seven species, including humans and anesthetized (30 mg/kg pentobarbital) animals. The erythrocyte aggregation rates were the following (in s-1): cats, 0.213 +/- 0.027 (means +/- SD); dogs, 0.164 +/- 0.027; men, 0.112 +/- 0.025; rats, 0.111 +/- 0.005; domestic rabbits, 0.049 +/- 0.021; and mongolian gerbils, 0.034 +/- 0.015. Domestic fowls did not exhibit erythrocyte aggregograms like those seen in the other species. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among the erythrocyte aggregation rates of the different species (multiple-comparisons with an overall significance level of 0.05) except between men and rats and between rabbits and gerbils. No single factor which is known to accelerate the erythrocyte aggregation rate (hematocrit, fibrinogen, etc.) was correlated with the erythrocyte aggregation rate except the globulin concentration in the blood. The failure to detect erythrocyte aggregation in domestic fowls was probably attributable to their erythrocyte shape. These results suggest that each species has its own proper tendency for erythrocyte aggregation. This factor must be taken into consideration when the blood circulation is discussed among different animal species.