The tonicity-volume relations for systems containing human red cells and the chlorides of monovalent cations

1. Differences in the fragility of human red cells are observed in equimolar solutions of the chlorides of the monovalent cations. The cells are most fragile in LiCl and least fragile in NaCl, the salts falling in the order Li > K ≧ Rb > Cs > Na. 2. The difference between the tonicity-volume relations in systems containing LiCl and systems containing NaCl lies in the molarity of the solution of LiCl which is isotonic (isoplethechontic) with plasma being considerably greater (0.189 M) than the molarity of the solution of NaCl which is isotonic (isoplethechontic) with plasma (0.160 M). The difference cannot be stated meantime in any simpler terms than these; if the activity coefficients are taken into account, it becomes even greater. The tonicity-volume relations for the two systems are otherwise almost identical; the value of R for the two systems is almost the same, the critical volumes at which the cells of least resistance hemolyze are almost identical, and the critical volumes at which the cells of average resistance hemolyze are almost identical. 3. The LiCl effect on volume occurs as soon after the addition of the cells to 0.172 M LiCl as the hematocrit method allows one to measure it. It is reversible by washing with 0.172 M NaCl.

Age as effecting the osmotic and mechanical fragility of dog erythrocytes tagged with radioactive iron

Radioactive iron was administered to three normal dogs, two of which had previously been bled, in order to tag a group of erythrocytes of approximately known age. The osmotic fragility of the newly formed tagged cells was significantly greater than that of the general cell population during the first few days after injection of the iron, while the mechanical fragility of the young cells was less than that of the general red cell population. As the cells aged and approached the end of their life span, their susceptibility to destruction by trauma inflicted by rolling glass beads exceeded that of the general cell population. The osmotic behavior of the old cells was not distinctive. The increased mechanical fragility of senescent cells suggests that the life span of erythrocytes may be limited at least in part by changes within the cell which render it more susceptible to destruction by mechanical wear and tear in the circulation. It is emphasized, however, that the trauma produced by rolling glass beads may be quite unlike that inflicted upon red cells in vivo. A decrease in circulating radioactive iron was observed in each experiment soon after the mechanical fragility of the tagged cells began to exceed that of the total cell population. The lowest point on the curve representing circulating radioiron was noted at 119, 119, and 122 days respectively after injection of iron in the three experiments. Estimates of the life span of dog erythrocytes obtained in this way agree with those provided by other methods.

Accumulation of potassium by human red cells

1. A method is described for measuring the accumulation of K at 37 degrees C. by washed human red cells in glucose-containing systems in which the pH is kept constant, the K content of the cells being compared with that of the cells of systems which contain no added glucose but which are otherwise treated similarly. 2. In systems containing added glucose, the accumulation of K begins shortly after the cells have been warmed to 37 degrees C., proceeds to a maximum which is reached after about 10 hours, and then falls exponentially. The maximum rate of accumulation is found during the first 3 hours. In systems which contain no added glucose, the K content of the cells appears to decrease exponentially with time for about 18 to 24 hours; thereafter the K content of the cells may decrease rapidly and the systems may show considerable hemolysis. Sometimes a small accumulation effect is observed during the first 2 to 3 hours; this may be the result of the washed cells not having been completely freed of glucose. 3. The accumulation process proceeds at its maximum rate at pH 7.4 to 7.6, which is also the pH at which the K loss from the red cells is at a minimum in systems containing no added glucose. 4. When red cells are stored at 4 degrees C. for increasing lengths of time, the storage is accompanied by increasing K loss and the maximum rate of accumulation observed when the cells are warmed to 37 degrees C. at first becomes greater. If the storage at 4 degrees C. is continued for more than 3 to 4 days, the rate of the accumulation which occurs at 37 degrees C decreases again, the accumulation mechanism showing progressive deterioration with time even at low temperatures. This deterioration has a counterpart in the progressive deterioration (deduced from the analysis of the curves relating K content and time) of the accumulation mechanism with time at 37 degrees C. 5. The accumulation of K occurs at a maximum rate when the concentration of glucose in the system is between 50 and 200 mg./100 ml. Its temperature coefficient over the range 27-37 degrees C. is 2.4. In the presence of glucose and at pH 7.6, accumulation of K takes place from isotonic mixtures of KCl and LiCl or of KCl and CsCl only a little less actively than from mixtures of KCl and NaCl; i.e., the accumulation of K under optimum conditions seems to be an active process which is at least partly independent of the excretion of Na.

Rate of potassium exchange of the human erythrocyte

1. The exchange of potassium by the human erythrocyte has been studied in vitro using radioactive potassium. 2. An incubation technique which maintains erythrocytes in an essentially normal state for over 48 hours was employed. 3. Exchange of radioactive potassium between the red cells and the extracellular fluid was regular and progressive, the specific activities of the intra- and extracellular fluids reaching equal values. This indicates that all the erythrocyte potassium is exchangeable and is exchanging at the same rate. 4. From these data, it was calculated that at 37 degrees C., 1.6 per cent of the erythrocyte potassium exchanges per hour, corresponding to an exchange of 1.5 mM of potassium per liter of red cells per hour. The time required for the exchange of 50 per cent of the red cell potassium is calculated to be 43 hours. 5. The temperature coefficient (Q(10)) of the potassium exchange rate is 2.2. This is the same as the temperature coefficient of the rate of utilization of glucose by the human erythrocyte. 6. Varying the percentage of red cells, plasma potassium concentration, initial glucose level, and pH between 7.0 and 7.7 had no effect on the potassium exchange rate.

The adsorption of proteins on erythrocytes treated with tannic acid and subsequent hemagglutination by antiprotein sera

Treatment of sheep erythrocytes with suitable concentrations of tannic acid render them capable of adsorbing certain protein molecules from solution in saline. Red cells which have adsorbed proteins in this way are agglutinated after washing by the homologous antiprotein sera, even by high dilutions. Through hemagglutination sera can be titrated for antibodies against antigens adsorbed on the cells exposed to tannic acid. Furthermore, small amounts of the antigens can be detected through their power to inhibit hemagglutination of the treated cells.