ISSN:
1432-1424
Keywords:
human red cell
;
hydrostatic pressure
;
‘passive’ cation transport
;
volume-sensitive KCl transport
;
activation volume
;
erythrocyte morphology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Summary The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (up to 400 ATA) on the ‘passive’ (defined as ouabain + bumetanide + EGTA-insensitive) influx and efflux of radiotracer cations (K+ Rb+, Na+, Cs+) has been studied in human red cells suspended at different medium tonicities giving altered cell volumes. Under all conditions studied, cation permeability was raised at pressure, and at least two distinct components were found to comprise this flux. Thus, increasing pressure (1) caused a generalized increase in cation permeability which was unaffected by the anion present, demonstrated linear concentration dependence, and wasreduced with cell swelling, and (2) stimulated a specific KCl pathway which was Cl− dependent, demonstrated saturation kinetics with raised [K]o and wasincreased with cell swelling. High hydrostatic pressure caused a significant alteration to red cell morphology from the normal biconcave disc to cup-shaped forms and it is proposed that this is associated with the unmasking of the volume-sensitive KCl system (2).
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01901009
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