Kinetics of erythrocyte swelling and membrane hole formation in hypotonic media.
Red blood cell (RBC) swelling and membrane hole formation in hypotonic external media were studied by measuring the time-dependent capacitance, C, and the conductance, G, in the beginning of the beta-dispersion range. At high and moderate osmolarities of the external solution the capacitance reaches a steady-state whereas at low osmolarities it reveals a biphasic kinetics. Examination of RBC suspensions exposed to different concentrations of HgCl(2) demonstrates that water transport through mercury-sensitive water channel controls RBC swelling. Unlike the capacitance, an increase in the conductance to a stationary level is observed after a certain delay. A comparison of G(t) curves recorded for the suspensions of the intact cells and those treated with cytochalasin B or glutaraldehyde demonstrates the significant effect of the membrane viscoelasticity on the pore formation. It is shown that the stretched membrane of completely swollen RBC retains its integrity for a certain time, termed as the membrane lifetime, t(memb). Therefore, the resistivity of RBCs to a certain osmotic shock may be quantified by the distribution function of RBC(t(memb)).
Pribush
Alexander
A
Physiology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. alexp@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Meyerstein
Dan
D
Meyerstein
Naomi
N
D020346:Aquaporins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D048429:Cell Size; D003470:Culture Media; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D004548:Elasticity; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D007700:Kinetics; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D020346:Aquaporins; D003470:Culture Media; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D014867:Water; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D005976:Glutaral