title: The effect of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning on the surface charge of blood cells.
abstract: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate postmortem changes of electric charge of human erythrocytes and thrombocytes after fatal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The surface charge density values were determined on the basis of the electrophoretic mobility measurements of the cells carried out at various pH values of electrolyte solution. The surface charge of erythrocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning as well as after sudden unexpected death increased compared to the control group in the whole range of experimental pH values. Also, a slight shift of the isoelectric point of erythrocyte membranes to high pH values was observed. The surface charge of thrombocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning decreased at low pH compared to the control group. However, at high pH, the values increased compared to the control group. The isoelectric point of thrombocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning was considerably shifted toward low pH values compared to the control group. The observed changes are probably connected with the destruction of blood cell structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona St. 13, 15-230, Bialystok, Poland, michalszeremeta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szeremeta
authors.forename: Aneta D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Petelska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotyńska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niemcunowicz-Janica
authors.forename: Zbigniew A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Figaszewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin