Effects of increased plasma viscosity and red blood cell aggregation on blood viscosity in vivo

The effects of increased plasma viscosity and induced red blood cell (RBC) aggregation on apparent viscosity of blood in vivo in the skeletal muscle of the dog were studied. Apparent viscosity in vivo was determined in the isolated and vasodilated calf muscles of one hindlimb by comparing pressure-flow relationships for RBC suspensions with pressure-flow relationships for a Newtonian solution of known viscosity. RBC suspensions of increased plasma viscosity with and without RBC aggregation were obtained by substituting plasma with isoviscous solutions of high- and low-molecular-weight dextran in saline. Hematocrits of the suspensions were adjusted to either 45 or 60%. The viscosities of the suspensions in vitro were determined in a Wells-Brookfield viscometer. Apparent viscosity of blood in vivo was found to be mainly dependent on the viscosity of plasma. RBC aggregation had no significant influence on the viscosity in vivo.