| Summary: | <p><strong>Purpose:</strong> To investigate the effect of inhalation radon gas (Rn) on the biomechanical properties of red blood cell of rats. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> 20 young healthy adult male albino rats were divided into equally 4 groups. The first group (0) served as control group, while the other three groups (I, II and III) were exposed to Rn gas inside a chamber for 3, 5 and 7 weeks. The biomechanical properties of red blood cell of rats was performed by determine the rheological properties of blood and the osmotic fragility of red blood cells (RBCs). <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The Rn doses received by every group of rats were found to 34.84, 58.07 and 81.30 mSv for 3, 5 and 7 weeks respectively (based on 12 exposure hours per week). The obtained results indicate that the viscosity, consistency index, yield stress and aggregation index increase with Rn doses. The osmotic fragility curves of irradiated groups shift toward lower values of NaCl concentration. The dispersion of hemolysis (S) increased, at the same time an average osmotic fragility (H<sub>50%</sub>) decreased. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The results indicates that the exposure to radon alters the mechanical properties of red blood cells membrane (permeability and elasticity) reflecting a change in its physiological properties. This mean that low levels of Rn gas are harmful to biological systems and the degree of damage was dose-dependent.</p>
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