Blood preservation. XXVIII. Galactose and maltose maintain red blood cell 2,3-DPG and ATP.

Because there may be inadequate dextrose in the newly licensed CPD-adenine for five or six weeks storage of high hematocrit red blood cells, this laboratory has examined some alternate sugars for their ability to maintain red blood cell metabolism during storage. In the current study, dextrose and fructose were studied as model or prototype nutrients. A third six carbon monosacharide, galactose, three dissacharides, lactose, maltose, and sucrose were studied in the same experiment. Of these, fructose best maintained ATP and 2,3-DPG during the fourth to sixth week of whole blood storage at 4 C. Dextrose was next best during this time and was nearly equivalent to fructose in the first three weeks of storage. Galactose and maltose both maintained ATP and 2,3-DPG, but not nearly so well as did fructose and dextrose. Sucrose and lactose were associated with the most rapid deterioration of ATP and DPG levels and they failed to maintain the progressive fall in pH which is usually associated with continuing, useful metabolism.