Effects of H/R on hematological features, endothelial activation, inflammation, and HbSC RBC hydration. Mice were exposed to 8% oxygen for 10 hours in a hypoxia chamber, followed by 2 hours of reoxygenation in ambient air. (A) RBC counts (A), Hb concentration (g/dL; B), hematocrit (%; C), platelets (D), sVCAM-1 concentration (ng/mL; E), and Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α; picograms per milliliter; F) levels in the plasma, before hypoxia and after H/R. (G) Average osmoscan ektacytometry curves before and after H/R are shown. (H) Ohyper, the osmolarity in the hyperosmolar region at which the RBCs achieve half of their maximal elongation for the data in panel G, is shown. Each symbol in the bar diagrams represents an individual mouse, and the bars represent mean ± standard error of the mean. Statistics were performed using ANOVA. ∗P < .05; ∗∗P < .01; ∗∗∗P < .001; ∗∗∗∗P < .00001. Representative SEM images of RBCs after hypoxia in HbSC (I) and HbSS (J). The specimens were imaged using a Zeiss FE-SEM (Supra 35 VP) at 3 keV with a working distance of 2.9 mm using the Inlens detector. The magnification scale is shown within the micrographs and insets. Conc., concentration; mOsm, milliosmoles; ns, not significant; Post, after H/R; Pre, before hypoxia; sVCAM-1, soluble VCAM-1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α.
