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THE OSMOTIC BEHAVIOR OF CRENATED RED CELLS.
1Nassau Hospital, Mineola, Long Island.
The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Human red blood cells swell less in hypotonic plasma when crenated. This cell crenation is analogous to gelation, with similar bulk modulus values found for both.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Red blood cells exhibit anomalous swelling in hypotonic environments.
- Cellular crenation is a morphological change observed under certain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between red blood cell crenation and swelling in hypotonic plasma.
- To explore the analogy between cell crenation and gelation phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of red blood cell swelling in hypotonic plasma.
- Calculation of the bulk modulus for crenated red blood cells.
Main Results:
- Anomalously small swelling of human red blood cells in hypotonic plasma correlates with cell crenation.
- The bulk modulus of crenated red blood cells is comparable to that of gelatin gels.
Conclusions:
- Cell crenation in red blood cells can be considered analogous to the gelation process.
- The mechanical properties of crenated cells share similarities with those of gelatin gels.
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