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To study the microrheological characteristics of RBCs during erythrocyte senescence in vivo, an anemia model of rabbit induced by phenylhydrazine injection was developed. Measurements of the hematocrit, the deformation indexes, the blood viscosity and the sedimentation, etc. were performed in vivo for more than 60 days in the processes of RBC senescence. Obvious changes in the RBC's rheological characteristics were found in this senescent model. Compared with our previously developed Wen's model [ 1,2] in which the entire RBC population was nearly synchronously produced following the induction of spherocytic anemia in the rabbit with antibody serum, the changes of RBC microrheological characteristics for this model showed approximately the same tendency, although Wen's model with antibody serum was much better in its ability to simulation of the nearly normal physiological conditions than the present one with phenylhydrazine injection. Hence, the present model can serve as a model of RBC senescence under abnormal physiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]