Hemolysis of human erythrocytes by transient electric field.
Exposure of human erythrocytes, under isotonic conditions, to a high voltage pulse of a few kV/cm leads to total hemolysis of the red cells. Experiments described herein demonstrate that the hemolysis is due to the effect of electric field. Neither the effect of current nor the extent of the rapid Joule-heating to the suspending medium shows a direct correlation with the observed hemolysis. Voltage pulsation of the erythrocyte suspension can induce a transmembrane potential across the cell membrane and, at a critical point, it either opens up or creates pores in the red cells. In isotonic saline the pores are small. They allow passage of potassium and sodium ions but not sucrose and hemoglobin molecules. The pores are larger in low ionic conditions and permit permeation of sucrose molecules, but under no circumstances can hemoglobin leak out as the direct result of the voltage pulse. Kinetic measurements indicate that the hemolysis of the red cells follows a stepwise mechanism: leakage of ions leads to an osmotic imbalance which in turn causes a colloidal hemolysis of the red cells. Other effects of the voltage pulsation are also discussed.
D000328:Adult; D003102:Colloids; D004560:Electricity; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006461:Hemolysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
D003102:Colloids; D006454:Hemoglobins
J Gen Physiol. 1958 Sep 20;42(1):9-28
13575771
J Physiol. 1952 Aug;117(4):500-44
12991237
Biophys J. 1976 Sep;16(9):1091-104
963205
Biophys J. 1974 Nov;14(11):881-99
4611517
J Membr Biol. 1975;20(1-2):1-12
235653
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Jul;71(7):2684-8
4527862
Naturwissenschaften. 1971 Jun;58(6):277-84
4935458
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1968 Aug;163(1):37-43
4969954
Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 1968;18:123-83
4894870
Chem Phys Lipids. 1968 Feb;2(1):55-101
4881748
Biophys J. 1975 Aug;15(8):850-2
1148367
J Biol Chem. 1975 Jan 25;250(2):786-9
1112789
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1975 Jul 3;394(3):449-62
1131371
J Membr Biol. 1975 Jun 3;22(1):73-90
1127686
J Am Chem Soc. 1970 Oct 7;92(20):6042-6
5460540
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1970 Mar 17;203(1):77-82
5445682