Cone-and-Plate Viscometery under Shear-Flow Cytometry

Cone-and-Plate Viscometery under Shear-Flow Cytometry 

The cone-and-plate viscometer is an in vitro flow model used to investigate the effects of bulk fluid shear stress on suspended cells. Anticoagulated whole blood specimens (or isolated cell suspensions) are placed between the two platens (both of stainless steel) of the viscometer. Rotation of the upper conical platen causes a well-defined and uniform shearing stress to be applied to the entire fluid medium as described by Konstantopolous et al. (1998). The shear rate (y) in this system can be readily calculated from the cone angle and the speed of the cone using the formula i/ = where y is the shear rate in sec-1, mis the 

Incubate anticoagulated whole blood with platelet antagonist or vehicle (control) at 37 °C for 10 min. 

Place a blood specimen (typically 500 xl) on the stationary platen of a cone-and-plate viscometer maintained at 37 °C. 

Take a small aliquot ( 3 xl) from the pre-sheared blood sample, fix it with 1 % formaldehyde in D-PBS ( 30 xl), and process it as outlined in steps 6-8. 

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