BACKGROUND Age- and gender-related alterations of hemorheological parameters have not been completely elucidated to date. Experiments on older animals may give valuable information on this issue. However, the majority of rheological studies have been performed in young rodents. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the influence of aging and gender on hemorheological parameters in rats. METHODS Coeval male (n=10) and female (n=10) Wistar (Crl:WI) rats were followed-up over 15 months. Blood samples were obtained from the lateral tail vein at 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months of age. Hematological parameters, red blood cell deformability (elongation under shear), osmotic gradient deformability and erythrocyte aggregation were tested. Body weight and the estrus cycle (in females) were also examined. RESULTS Erythrocyte aggregation showed age- and gender-related variations. Red blood cell deformability was greater in females and gradually decreased over the 15-month period in both genders. Erythrocyte aggregation was greater in male rats at most ages, but did not show consistent changes with age. CONCLUSIONS The micro-rheological parameters showed age-related alterations with gender differences. The effect of the estrous cycle cannot be excluded in female rats. The results provide reference data for studies of aging in rats and of the mechanism related to age and gender differences in hemorheology.

中文翻译：

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年龄和性别对3至18个月大的雄性和雌性Wistar（Crl：WI）大鼠的血液微流变学的影响。

背景技术迄今为止，尚未完全阐明与年龄和性别有关的血液流变学参数的改变。对年长动物的实验可能会提供有关此问题的宝贵信息。但是，大多数流变学研究是在年轻的啮齿动物中进行的。目的我们旨在研究衰老和性别对大鼠血液流变学参数的影响。方法对同龄的雄性Wistar（Crl：WI）（n = 10）和雌性（n = 10）大鼠进行了15个月的随访。在3、4、5、9、12、15和18个月大时从侧尾静脉采集血样。测试血液学参数，红细胞变形能力（剪切伸长率），渗透梯度变形能力和红细胞聚集。还检查了体重和发情周期（女性）。结果红细胞聚集显示出年龄和性别相关的变异。女性的红细胞变形能力更大，并且在两个月的15个月内逐渐降低。在大多数年龄的雄性大鼠中，红细胞聚集均较大，但未随年龄显示出一致的变化。结论微观流变学参数显示出与年龄有关的改变以及性别差异。在雌性大鼠中不能排除发情周期的影响。该结果为研究大鼠衰老以及血液流变学中与年龄和性别差异有关的机制提供了参考数据。结论微观流变学参数显示出与年龄有关的改变以及性别差异。在雌性大鼠中不能排除发情周期的影响。该结果为研究大鼠衰老以及血液流变学中与年龄和性别差异有关的机制提供了参考数据。结论微观流变学参数显示与年龄相关的性别差异。在雌性大鼠中不能排除发情周期的影响。该结果为研究大鼠衰老以及血液流变学中与年龄和性别差异有关的机制提供了参考数据。