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Membrane potential and human erythrocyte shape

M M Gedde1, W H Huestis

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, California 94305, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|March 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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External pH changes red blood cell shape, but this study found membrane potential does not independently alter erythrocyte shape. Experiments show red blood cells maintain a discoid shape across a wide range of membrane potentials.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Altered external pH induces shape changes in human erythrocytes (red blood cells), transforming them into stomatocytes or echinocytes.
  • Previous studies suggested a link between red blood cell shape change and membrane potential, but lacked controls for other cellular variables.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the independent effect of membrane potential on red blood cell shape.
  • To determine if membrane potential mediates shape changes induced by altered pH.

Main Methods:

  • Human red blood cells were equilibrated in solutions with varying chloride concentrations to manipulate membrane potential.
  • Cellular parameters including pH, water content, chloride concentration, and membrane potential were precisely measured.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Red blood cell morphology was assessed across a range of controlled membrane potentials.

    • Main Results:

    • Red blood cells maintained a discoid shape across the tested membrane potential range (-45 to +45 mV).
    • No significant correlation was observed between membrane potential and red blood cell shape when other factors were controlled.

    Conclusions:

    • Membrane potential does not independently influence human red blood cell shape.
    • The study concludes that membrane potential is not the primary mediator of pH-induced red blood cell shape alterations.