Changes in red blood cell choline and choline-bound lipids with oral lithium

Summary The influence of oral lithium on the concentration of red blood cell choline (Ch), lecithin, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPCh) and phosphorylcholine (PCh) was studied. The concentration of RBC Ch was significantly elevated and the concentration of lecithin, GPCh and PCh significantly depressed in 16 patients on oral lithium compared to 9 age-matched controls. We conclude that lithium markedly depletes the red blood cell of choline containing compounds including lecithin. These changes may be responsible for both the therapeutic efficacy and the toxicity of lithium.     

Biochemical polymorphism and the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the sheep red blood cells

Summary There was no significant difference in the level of 2,3-DPG in the red blood cells of sheep of different haemoglobin types (Hb A and Hb B) or potassium types (HK and LK). However, low glutathione (GSH^L) sheep had significantly higher (p<0.01) level of 2,3-DPG in their red blood cells than high glutathione (GSH^H) sheep. There was also significant effect of interactions between glutathione, haemoglobin and potassium types (p<0.05) and glutathione and haemoglobin types (p<0.01) on red cell 2,3-DPG levels.     

Recherches sur la pseudo-cholinestérase du sérum et la cholinestérase vraie des globules rouges

Summary By means of a technic published in this journal (2, 66 [1946]), it has been observed that the activity of the pseudo-choline esterase of the serum is highest in presence of high concentrations of acetylcholine.The true choline esterase of the red corpuscules has her optimal activity at concentrations of 200 mg % acetylcholine. This high activity of these choline esterase is only going on during 3 to 5 minutes; after this period an inhibition occurs. At lower substrate concentrations (50 mg % acetylcholine) the difference in activity in the first and second phase is becoming less pronounced and the curve of the choline esterase activity becomes a straight line. At the small substrate concentration (4 mg % acetylcholine) again a primary higher choline esterase activity has been observed.Choline inhibitsin vitro the activity of the choline esterase. Prostigmine inhibits alsoin vivo andin vitro, the choline esterase of serum and globules.     

Effects of cadmium on the immune system of mice.

Chronic oral exposure of mice to Cd++ inhibits cell-mediated immunity of delayed type hypersensitivity induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). No effect was detected on humoral immune response to SRBC. Spleen cells derived from mice exposed to Cd++ showed in vitro enhanced response to T and B cell mitogens. These results demonstrate that Cd++ exposure alters the immune system of mice.     

Steady-state distribution of lithium during cultivation of dissociated brain cells

Summary The formation of a steady-state intracellular lithium level was studied in the course of cultivation of dissociated nerve cell cultures obtained from chick embryonic brains. When lithium was given at a concentration of 2 mM, in the nutrient medium, at day 5, a steady state intracellular lithium content was achieved after about 30 min of incubation and it did not change significantly during the time of cultivation up to the 13th day in vitro.Acknowledgment. We thank Dr Latzkovits for useful advice and helping in methodology.     

Red blood cell glycolysis and potassium type in sheep

Summary Based on the observations made on human and dog red blood cells, it was recently proposed that the response of red cell glycolysis to variations in the levels of specific cations is an evolutionary adaptation in response to a specific cellular environment. We have now examined the effect of K⁺ and Na⁺ on the activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) in the red blood cells from 2 genetically different types of sheep high potassium (HK) and low potassium (LK). The results indicate that K⁺ stimulate glucose consumption and the activity of PK in both types of sheep. It thus appears that red cell PK from LK sheep does not fit into the concept of cellular environment and PK activity.This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti New South Wales Foundation and the Helena Rubenstein Foundation, Inc.     

Red cell metabolism in red and grey kangaroos

Glucose utilization, lactate production and glutathione regeneration were measured in the red blood cells of 2 species of Australian Marsupials, Eastern grey Kangaroo (Macropus gigantus) and red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), and were found to be significantly lower in the red blood cells from grey than that of red kangaroos.     

Effects of cadmium on the immune system of mice

Summary Chronic oral exposure of mice to Cd⁺⁺ inhibits cell-mediated immunity of delayed type hypersensitivity induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). No effect was detected on humoral immune response to SRBC. Spleen cells derived from mice exposed to Cd⁺⁺ showed in vitro enhanced response to T and B cell mitogens. These results demonstrate that Cd⁺⁺ exposure alters the immune system of mice.Dedicated to Prof. Georg Henneberg on the occasion of his 70th anniversary on 12.10.1978.Acknowledgments. Supported by a grant from the Umweltbundesamt. We thank Ms Odenwald, Ms Schulz, Klinikum Steglitz, and Ms Emeis, Robert Koch-Institut Abt. Immunologie, for the excellent technical assistance.     

The effect of pyrophosphate and diphosphonates on calcium transport in red cells.

The effect of 0.5 mM pyrophosphate (PPi), disodium ethane-4-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) and disodium dichloromethane diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) on the ATP-dependent Ca2+ extrusion from the human red cell ghosts was studied. PPi and Cl2MDP had no effect, when introduced into the cells or added outside to the medium. EHDP slightly increased the calcium concentration in the released cells and slightly decreased the rate constant of the calcium transport, having opposite effects when it was inside or outside the cells. PPi and the 2 diphosphonates were not found to move easily across the red cell membrane.     

The negative correlation between erythrocyte concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin or mean corpuscular volume in normal dogs

Summary In normal adult Beagle dogs red cell concentration decreased linearly with increasing mean red cell volume and mean red cell haemoglobin. The results are statistically significant (p<0.001).     

Red cell metabolism in red and grey kangaroos

Summary Glucose utilization, lactate production and glutathione regeneration were measured in the red blood cells of 2 species of Australian Marsupials, Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus gigantus) and red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), and were found to be significantly lower in the red blood cells from grey than that of red kangaroos.The author wishes to thank Mrs T. Stephens, M. A. Gruca and A. Mulley for help in blood collection and laboratory work. This work was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.     

Activation of particle associated rat liver guanine deaminase by lecithin and interferences of lecithin in protein precipitation

Summary Guanine deaminase solubilized from the light mitochondrial fraction of rat liver was activated by lecithin. The activation was proportional to the concentration of lecithin taken in the system. A ratio of 11 between the two constituents (protein and lecithin) was at least necessary for complete precipitation.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Professor P.S.Krishnan, University of Calicut, Calicut, Kerala, for his interest.     

Foetal blood abnormality associated with hypodactyly in the hd strain of rat.

The homozygous foetuses of hypodactyl rats (hd strain) present an obvious red blood cell macrocytosis (day 14 of gestation). This blood abnormality could give rise to thrombosis leading to early necrosis of the extremities.     

Foetal blood abnormality associated with hypodactyly in the hd strain of rat

Summary The homozygous foetuses of hypodactyl rats (hd strain) present an obvious red blood cell macrocytosis (day 14 of gestation). This blood abnormality could give rise to thrombosis leading to early necrosis of the extremities.     

Adhesion of human red blood cells to polystyrene. Influence of sodium chloride concentration and of neuraminidase treatment

Summary The adhesion on polystyrene of glutaraldehyde-fixed human red blood cells was found to increase with NaCl concentration. Half of the maximum of irreversible adhesion was obtained in 2.2 mM NaCl for neuraminidase-treated cells and in 5.5 mM NaCl for the untreated cells.     

Adhesion of human red blood cells to polystyrene. Influence of sodium chloride concentration and of neuraminidase treatment.

The adhesion on polystyrene of glutaraldehyde-fixed human red blood cells was found to increase with NaCl concentration. Half of the maximum of irreversible adhesion was obtained in 2.2 mM NaCl for neuraminidase-treated cells and in 5.5 mM NaCl for the untreated cells.     

The effects of tryptophol on immune responses and its implications toward trypanosome-induced immunosuppression

Summary Daily administrations of tryptophol to laboratory rodents resulted in significantly depressed antibody production to heterologous red blood cell challenge, but did not alter cellular-mediated responses to oxazalone. These results suggest that trypanosome-produced tryptophol may account for the immunodepression observed during trypanosomiasis.     

The effects of parabiotic union with a normal partner on the blood tissue of the b/b rat suffering from an inheritable anemia

Summary The parabiotic union of a b/b rat, suffering from a red blood cell anemia, with a normal partner will restore to normal the functioning of this type of blood cell. The effect of parabiotic union is evident for several weeks following the separation of the parabiotic partners. It would be logical to conclude that the normal partner supplies a factor absent in the anemic animal needed for normal functioning of the red cell.     

Relations between magnesium, erythrocyte zinc and HL-A groups]

Red blood cell and plasma magnesium and zinc levels and plasma calcium concentrations have been determined in 84 unrelated male subjects, with known HLA groups. When the subjects are classified according to their HLA--B groups, significant variations are observed for red blood cell magnesium and zinc concentrations, while no important variation is observed for HLA--A groups. These results confirm the importance of genetic factors in the regulation of Mg and Zn red blood cell concentrations.     

Effects of loading density on cafish blood

Summary Results from this study indicate that a fish density stress syndrome exists for red blood cell morphology. Smaller (by 3.5%) and rounder (by 0.6%) red blood cells were consistently found in intensive fish cultures.Acknowledgments. This work was conducted as part of the Federal Interagency Energy/Environmental Research and Development Program with funds administered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Contract No. EPA-IAG-D8-E721-DR, TVA Contract No. TV-41967A). Dr Ralph H. Brooks and Billy G. Isom are acknowledged for making this study possible. The data were kindly donated by Dr R.W. Williams and W.E. Barksdale, both formerly with the Department of Biology, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama.