Erythrocyte Li transport following different storage conditions

Erythrocyte Na-Li countertransport has been shown to be elevated in subjects with essential hypertension and has been proposed as a genetic marker. It is also modified by other factors which may exist in the plasma under physiological or pathophysiological conditions. In this investigation, we studied the comparison of storage conditions in plasma and isotonic KCl solution (which has been used as a preservation solution for erythrocyte's Li transport) for cellular Na economy and Na-Li countertransport in erythrocytes from normotensive and hypertensive subjects. We found that plasma-stored cells exhibited higher cellular Na concentration and higher rates of Na-Li countertransport as well as Li leak, than that of KCl solution-stored cells after 20 hr. It is likely that both Na pump and leak permeabilities are changed during plasma storage but the detailed mechanisms involved require further investigation. We also confirmed the usefulness of isotonic KCl solution as a preservation media for erythrocytes in transport studies for up to three days.