Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.115, No.7, p.400-404, 2014

Purpose: In the current study we aim to investigate the effects of vitamin C and profol on red blood cell deformability in diabetic rats
Materials and methods: Twenty- eight Wistar Albino rats were included in the study after streptozocin (60 mg/kg) treatment for 4 weeks of observation for diabetes presence. Twenty-eight rats were allocated to 4 groups.

In group DP (n = 7) 150 mg.kg-1 of propofol was injected intraperitoneally. In group DP-vit C (n = 7) rats 100 mg/kg of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid, Redoxon® 1000 mg/5 mL - Roche) were applied one hour before administrating 150 mg.kg-1 of propofol, while rats in control group (n = 7), and diabetic control group (n = 7) received intraperitoneally physiological saline.

Deformability measurements were achieved by using erythrocyte suspensions with hematocrit level of 5 % in PBS buffer.
Results:

Erythrocyte deformability was significantly higher in diabetic control group than in control and vitamin C plus propofol groups (p = 0.00, p = 0.025, respectively).

Erythrocyte deformability indexes were found similar in control group and vitamin C plus propofol group (p = 0.949).

Relative resistance was increased in diabetic rat model.
Conclusions: Erythrocyte deformability was damaged in rats with diabetes. This injury might lead to further problems in microcirculation. Application of propofol did not alter red cell deformability in diabetic rats. Vitamin C supplementation seems to reverse those negative effects and variations in erythrocyte deformability (Fig. 2, Ref. 57).