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Published on: January 12, 2018
Reconstruction of erythrocyte shape during modified morphological response
1Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkov, 61015, Ukraine. rsv@kharkov.ua
Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
|November 16, 2010
Summary
Benzalkonium chloride (BzA) alters erythrocyte shape in sucrose solutions, causing asymmetric transitions. The study suggests erythrocyte membrane structure is key to these shape changes, challenging existing models.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Membrane Dynamics
Background:
- Erythrocyte shape is critical for function and regulated by membrane properties.
- Benzalkonium chloride (BzA) is a surfactant known to affect cell morphology.
- Existing models for erythrocyte shape regulation include the continuum and bilayer-couple models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentration-dependent effects of benzalkonium chloride (BzA) on erythrocyte shape.
- To analyze the morphological transitions of erythrocytes in sucrose solutions.
- To evaluate the validity of current erythrocyte shape regulation models based on observed transitions.
Main Methods:
- Erythrocytes were exposed to varying concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BzA) in sucrose solutions.
- Cell morphology was observed following fixation with glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde.
- Shape transitions were analyzed to understand the mechanism of BzA-induced changes.
Main Results:
- Benzalkonium chloride (BzA) concentration directly influences echinocyte formation.
- BzA can induce a direct spherostomatocyte-spheroechinocyte transition without significant shape alteration.
- The reverse transition (spheroechinocyte-spherostomatocyte) involved cell flattening, not always achieving a discoidal shape.
Conclusions:
- Erythrocyte shape transitions induced by BzA in sucrose solutions are asymmetric.
- The observed asymmetry contradicts predictions from continuum and bilayer-couple models.
- Nonuniformities in the native erythrocyte membrane structure appear crucial for morphological transitions.
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