Potassium loss and cellular dehydration of stored erythrocytes following incubation in autologous plasma: role of the KCl cotransport system.
We studied the regulation of cell volume and cation content in erythrocytes stored at 4 degrees C under blood bank conditions for various lengths of time and subsequently incubated in autologous plasma at 37 degrees C for 4 or 24 h. Cell swelled during storage at 4 degrees C whereas marked K+ loss and cell shrinkage were observed when erythrocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C in autologous plasma. The cell shrinkage was inhibited only by the K+ Cl- cotransport-specific inhibitor, [(dihydroindenyl)oxy] alkanoic acid, and not by other specific inhibitors of cation transport systems such as ouabain (Na(+)-K+ ATPase pump), bumetanide (Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport) or carbocyanine (Ca+(+)-activated K+ channel). Acidification and swelling of the erythrocytes are well known to be able to activate the K+ Cl cotransport; such conditions, which were demonstrated to occur during the storage, could lead to activation of the K+ Cl- cotransport in reinfused cells. These data strongly support the evidence that K+ Cl- cotransport plays a role in K+ loss and dehydration of stored erythrocytes, when incubated in autologous plasma.
Olivieri
O
O
Institute of Medical Pathology, Polyclinic Borgo Roma, University of Verona, Italy.
de Franceschi
L
L
de Gironcoli
M
M
Girelli
D
D
Corrocher
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002412:Cations / Q000097:blood; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000097:blood*
D002412:Cations; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D011188:Potassium