[Mechanical resistance of amidinated human erythrocytes]

The amidination reactions by means of dimethyl adipimidate (0.25-10.0 mM) or dimethyldodecane-imidate (0.1-1.0 mM) cause an alteration of the mechanical resistance of red blood cells. Low amidination results in peripheral cross-links of erythrocytes whose mechanical resistance increase relative to borate buffer treated cells. Increasing cross-linking reduces the mechanical resistance of erythrocytes, which finally appears to have become restored. The final state, however, is characterized by an almost complete cross-linking of the cell, which than no longer behaves like an osmometer.