Age dynamics of erythrocyte rheological properties in calves of the first year of life under conditions of the Central Russia

In early ontogenesis a functional activity of erythrocytes makes one of the main basis for animal adaptation to environment by supporting optimal blood rheology. Parameters of blood flow largely depends on the cytoarchitecture and aggregation of erythrocytes. However, aspects of age-related changes of their microrheology in healthy calves during the first year of life are not clarified. To establish the functional peculiarities of erythrocytes in healthy animal during the early ontogenesis, the Black-and-White calves from an industrial farm in Kaluzhskaya region were examined (27 calves tested at the age of 1, 5 and 10 days, 33 calves — at the age of 15, 20, 25 and 30 days, 34 calves — at the age of 45, 60, 75 and 90 days, and 36 calves — at the age of 6, 9 and 12 months). The biochemical and hematological parameters, which characterize the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection of plasma and erythrocytes, lipid composition, cytoarchitecture and aggregation of red blood cells, were analyzed using the Student's t-test. For the first year of life, the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in red cells, as well as their antioxidant protection increased while the intensity of lipid peroxidation decreased. In blood of healthy 12 months aged calves the number of reversibly and irreversibly altered erythrocytes also increased and their aggregative activity became higher. Thus, in the early ontogenesis of calves some changes in erythrocyte membrane occur which improved their ability to aggregate.