Effect of X-ray radiation on the nanomechanical properties of the erythrocyte surface of rats on a high-cholesterol diet

Objective. To reveal changes in the structural and nanomechanical properties of the erythrocyte surface caused by the action of X-ray radiation in vitro on the whole blood of rats on a high-cholesterol diet using the method of atomic-force microscopy.

Materials and methods. The blood of male Wistar rats being on a high-cholesterol diet for two months was exposed to X-ray radiation (320 kV) at doses of 1 and 100 Gy. The structural, elastic and adhesive properties of the surface of isolated and glutaraldehyde-fxed erythrocytes at the nanoscale were studied using the atomic- force microscope BioScope Resolve in PeakForce QNM mode in air.

Results. The study has identifed an increase in the stiffness of the erythrocyte surface at a dose of 1 Gy and its decrease to almost control values at a dose of 100 Gy, which was accompanied by an increase in the size of the average cell of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton. At the same time, no signifcant changes in the morphology, adhesive properties and roughness of the relief of erythrocytes have been found.

Conclusion. The obtained data indicate that X-ray radiation (1–100 Gy) induces the dose-depending reorganization of the structure and changes in the stiffness of the erythrocyte surface layer at the nanoscale without changing the cell morphology for rats on a high-cholesterol diet.

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