The influence of valinomycin induced membrane potential on erythrocyte shape

In addition to previous observations indicating that membrane potential changes generated by various Donnan- and Nernst-potentials lead to erythrocyte shape transformations, we show in this paper that diffusion potential change, induced by valinomycin, governs erythrocyte shape transformations. In low KCl-medium valinomycin, transferring the positive Nernst-potential into a negative diffusion potential, transforms stomatocytes into echinocytes. Using modified erythrocytes with a reversed K/Na ratio, even positive diffusion potentials can be induced by valinomycin. In these cases, stomatocytes can be generated by valinomycin. It is shown that, additionally, valinomycin in large concentrations is itself stomatocytogenic, and that the fluorescent dye diS-C3-(5) also induces stomatocytes. This, however, is a side effect which does not contradict the potential dependence of shape transformation. Using non washed erythrocytes, resuspended in plasma, valinomycin, inducing negative diffusion potential, transforms most erythrocytes to echinocytes despite the stomatocytogenic effect of albumin.