Permeability of membrane to potassium in hypochromic red cells with different specific density.
In hypochromic anaemias (heterozygous beta-thalassaemia and iron deficiency anaemia) ligher red cells lose more K+ than heavier ones, following incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h. Both in the light and heavy fractions two subpopulations of cells with different permeability to K+ can be separated by a new centrifugation after incubation. On the basis of the results, a relationship between K+ permeability and probability of survival in hypochromic cells is suggested.
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002470:Cell Survival; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D013046:Specific Gravity
D011188:Potassium