The in vitro effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on whole blood viscosity, elasticity and membrane integrity.

Background: The main biological activities of cannabis are due to the presence of several compounds known as cannabinoids. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of the main cannabinoids. Studies have shown that the effects of THC can be modulated by CBD.

The effect of sildenafil on the elasticity of erythrocytes in homozygous sickle cell disease.

Purpose: One of the features of homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS) is the impaired elasticity of the erythrocyte membrane that could impede microcirculatory blood flow and cause hypoxia and tissue damage. We investigated the effect of sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor that inhibits the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) resulting in vasodilatation, on the elasticity of HbSS erythrocyte.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples from ten HbSS patients in steady state was exposed to different doses (5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/mL) of sildenafil and the elasticity of the erythrocytes measured at native hematocrit with the BioProfiler.