Effects of calcium and A23187 on deformability and volume of human red blood cells |
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Authors: | R A Dodson T R Hinds F F Vincenzi |
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Institution: | Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle. |
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Abstract: | Human red blood cells treated in vitro with Ca2+ plus A23187 in low K+ medium exhibited significantly decreased cell volume and deformability, the latter determined by ektacytometry. These effects of Ca2+ plus A23187 were prevented in the presence of high K+ medium. Increased K+ permeability mediated by increased intracellular Ca2+ (Gardos effect) was apparently responsible for decreased cell volume and deformability in low K+ medium. Although it is commonly accepted that Ca2+ accumulation and/or ATP depletion per se cause decreased red blood cell deformability, the present results demonstrate that acutely induced changes in red blood cell volume as promoted by Ca2+ are a more important determinant of red blood cell deformability. |
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