Effect of low power laser irradiation on disconnecting the membrane-attached hemoglobin from erythrocyte membrane

In our previous study we found that low power laser irradiation improved the erythrocyte deformability, but the mechanism is unclear. The membrane-attached hemoglobin (Hbm) may be one of the determining factors for the erythrocyte deformability. We report here for the first time, that laser irradiation can reduce the Hbm contents in pig's erythrocytes, providing the explanation for the improvement of erythrocyte deformability. The decrease of the Hbm was proportional to the irradiation dose, but the relative change of Hbm was saturated around 35%. The 532 nm laser was more efficient at lowering Hbm than the 632.8 nm laser, consistent with the absorption spectrum of Hbm. (c) 2006 Elsevier. B.V. All rights reserved.