title: Impairment of Barrier Properties of Erythrocyte Membranes Caused by Low Temperatures is a Result of Disorganization of Hemoglobin Supramolecular Structure.
abstract: The antecedence of impairment of plasmatic membrane structure and functions forms the basis of the dominative concept about mechanisms of cell cryoinjuries. A role of alterations of hemoglobin supramolecular structure in erythrocytes remains unclear.
  
  
  
  Comparison of continuity of membranes of native erythrocytes and resealed ghosts after freeze-thawing with a cryoprotectant at a low concentration (4%).
  
  
  
  Cryoresistance of native erythrocytes and resealed ghosts with and without low concentrations of cryoprotectants (4% glycerol) was compared according to egress of the following markers: hemoglobin, 14С-sucrose and K+ as well as by scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  
  It was found that resealed erythrocyte ghosts, where hemoglobin content was 4-5 times lower than in erythrocytes, were much more cryoresistant than native erythrocytes, which was especially noticeable when a low concentration of cryoprotectant (4% glycerol) was used.
  
  
  
  These data confirm an earlier proposed hypothesis on the role of supramolecular hemoglobin structure in cryoinjury mechanisms of erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Problems for Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of NAS of Ukraine, Kharkiv, ivanhou11@gmail.com; nvrepin@mail.ru.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gulevskvy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Problems for Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of NAS of Ukraine, Kharkiv.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Repin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Problems for Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of NAS of Ukraine, Kharkiv.
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Schenvavsky
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005990:Glycerol