Studies on Blood Preservation. The Relative Capacities of Hexoses, Hexitols, and Ethanol to Maintain Red Cell ATP Levels during Storage

Abstract

The effectiveness of fructose, mannose, galactose, mannitol and sorbitol as substrates for ATP preservation in red cells stored in citrate media at 4 C. has been investigated. Studies were made with simple acid‐citrate preservatives analogous to acid‐citrate‐dextrose solution, with adenine‐containing solutions and with adenine and phosphate‐containing solutions. Fructose and mannose were at least as effective, and in some instances superior to glucose as substrates for ATP preservation. Galactose, sorbitol, and mannitol were found to be markedly inferior to glucose as preservative solutions. Ethanol, in relatively high concentrations, was found to improve slightly the effectiveness of glucose as preservative of ATP and to produce a marked decrease in in vitro hemolysis. Further trials of fructose and mannose as substrates in red cell preservation would seem to be warranted.