Voltage pulsation of sickle erythrocytes enhances membrane permeability to oxygen.
Treatment of sickle red cells (SS homozygous) with a voltage pulse of less than 0.8 kV/cm and duration of 20 mus caused a change in the cell membrane, so as to facilitate the permeation of oxygen. The unsickling of the treated cells after a re-introduction of oxygen took place at a much faster rate. Neither leakages of Na+ and K+, nor a change in the cell volume occurred as the result of the low voltage pulsation. The effect of the voltage treatment persisted for hours at 25 degrees C but disappeared rapidly at 37 degrees C. The result suggests that a selective modification of membrane permeability may be achieved by the voltage pulsation technique.
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004560:Electricity; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen