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).     

Die Wirkung von Spirolactonen und von Herzglykosiden auf den Natrium- und Kaliumtransport an Erythrocyten

Summary Experiments made on human red cells showed that spirolactones (SC 5233 and SC 9420) added to the sample as dry powder (10^–3 g/ml) exert an inhibitory action on the active transport of sodium and potassium across the cell membrane. Spirolactone at its saturation concentration in serum (1.5×10^–5 g/ml), however, was ineffective.The inhibitory action was not affected by aldosterone or hydrocortisone.Experiments involving exposure of red cells to spirolactone and a cardiac glycoside simultaneously led to the conclusion that these substances do not have the same mechanism of action. The inhibition caused by spirolactone added to the inhibition due to a supramaximal concentration of ouabain (5 × 10^–4).

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Diese Arbeit wurde unterstützt durch ein Stipendium der CIBA für naturwissenschaftliche, medizinische und technische Forschung.     

Aktivität der Aldolase und der Succinatdehydrogenase (SDH) in der weissen und roten Skelettmuskulatur junger und alter Ratten

Summary The activity of aldolase and succinatdehydrogenase (SDH) in white and red skeletal muscle of young (3–7 months) and old (20–30 months) rats has been determined. In addition also the SDH of liver was measured. The activity of aldolase is higher in white than in red muscles, while SDH shows a higher activity in red than in white muscles. The activity of aldolase is not influenced by ageing in white muscles, but decreased in red muscles by 23%. In old animals the activity of SDH is 34% less in white and 52% less in red muscles. In liver the activity is 44% less. The significance of these changes for the energy metabolism of skeletal muscle is discussed.     

Deformation of transforming red cells in various pH solutions

Summary Centrifugation into a rapid cell fixative is used to determine the conformation of red cells at various pH-values as a measure of red cell deformability. Discocytes show a good deformation into handbag-like forms; echinocytes and stomatocytes have reduced deformability with characteristic shapes of deformation.     

Effect of harmaline on the cerebello-rubral system

Summary Harmaline induces synchronous rhythms in both the cerebellum and the red nucleus of the rabbit. The level of synchronization is lower in the red nucleus than in the cerebellar cortex, probably because the cerebello-rubral pathway and the red nucleus neurons only participate poorly in the harmaline-induced olivo-cerebellar rhythm.Acknowledgments. We thank Mrs M. Satzinger and Mrs A. Motejlek for their technical assistance. The drugs were generously supplied by Bayer Pharma GmbH, Vienna (Evipan^® and Epontol^®), Boehringer, C. H. Sohn, Ingelheim am Rhein, Federal Republic of Germany (Flaxedil^®) and Hoffmann-La Roche GmbH, Vienna (harmaline hydrochloride).     

31P-NMR study on nucleotides and intracellular pH of hereditary spherocytes

Summary As determined by³¹p-NMR spectroscopy, intracellarar pH of hereditary spherocytes was lower (pH 6.7–6.9) than that of normal red cells. The level of adenosine diphosphate in hereditary spherocytes was found to be persistently high. The metabolism of nucleotides and other phosphoryl compounds in human red blood cells have been studied in detail by³¹p-NMR spectroscopy^1–3. However, to our knowledge, there seems to be no report describing the result of³¹p-NMR spectroscopy on red blood cells from hereditary spherocytosis.     

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.     

Transgenic animal models of sickle cell disease

An animal model which allows study of chronic processes occurring in sickle cell disease has finally been realized with the development of several lines of transgenic mice which express high levels of ^s or ^s-variants in their red cells. The red cells of all mouse lines exhibit characteristic sickle shapes on deoxygenation and most lines have enlarged spleens and mildly elevated reticulocytes in adult mice; both of these properties are suggestive of enhanced red cell destruction and erythropoiesis. However, all lines examined to date have normal hemoglobin levels in adult mice. In one mouse line under ambient conditions, retinopathy and abnormal renal function have been observed and in the same line under hypoxic conditions, anemia, irreversibly sickled cell formation, and urine concentrating defect have been observed. The current mouse lines will allow some aspects of sickle cell disease to be studied, but sigificant improvements can still be made in the transgenic mouse model.     

Diethylpyrocarbonate interferes with lipid-protein interaction and glucose transport in the human red cell membrane.

Diethylpyrocarbonate largely diminished both discontinuities in red cell glucose transport and also in red cell membrane ANS fluorescence at about 17--20 degrees C.     

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.     

Änderung des Glukosetransports frischer menschlicher Erythrozyten bei längerer Inkubation

Summary Incubation of fresh defibrinated blood at 37°C increases the volume of red cells and decreases their permeation rate for glucose. The kinetics of sugar transport show direct proportionality between rate and the osmotic content of red cells. The measured volume changes and the changes of osmotic content calculated from the glucose permeation curves are in good agreement. Adenosine reconstitutes the increased volume and the decreased permeation rate in red cells. Therefore the decrease in permeation rate is explained by the increase in volume.     

The Dead Sea — alive again

In the thirteen years of quantitative studies on the microbiology of the Dead Sea from 1980 onwards three distinct periods can be discerned. Mass development of the green unicellular algaDunaliella parva (up to 8,800 cells/ml) and red archaeobacteria (2×10⁷ cells/ml) was observed in 1980, following a dilution of the upper water layers by rain floods. This bloom disappeared at the end of 1982 as a result of a complete mixing of the water column. During the period 1983–1991 the lake was holomictic, and noDunaliella cells were observed. Viable bacteria were present during this period in very low numbers. Heavy rain floods during the winter of 1991–1992 caused a new stratification as the upper five meters of the water column became diluted to 70% of their normal salinity. In this upper water layerDunaliella reappeared (up to 3×10⁴ cells/ml at the beginning of May, rapidly declining to less than 40 cells/ml at the end of July), and a bloom of red archaeobacteria (3×10⁷ cells/ml) once more imparted a red coloration to the lake.     

Recombination of integral and peripheral protein fractions from human red cell membrane with homologous lipids

Summary Integral and peripheral protein fractions from human red cell membranes were recombined with a total red cell lipid extract and with homologous lipids in varying mixtures, by dialysis from 2-chlorethanol solutions. The 2 protein fractions were compared for lipid binding capacity and for selectivity towards individual lipids.     

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.     

Auslöschung der koronalen [FeX]3 s2 3 p5 2P1/2−2P1 1/2-Strahlung (6374 Å) durch Protuberanzen

Summary It is shown that the intensity of the red coronal line 6374 Á is diminished in the regions of the stationary solar prominences.     

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.     

Protein bound calcium in piscine red and white muscles

Summary The levels of Ca⁺⁺ and calcium binding properties of sarcoplasmic proteins in red and white muscles of cat fish were compared. The white muscle is characterized by greater water content, ionic calcium and Ca-binding capacity, whereas the red muscle is characterized by a higher calcium sensitive protein content.The authors are grateful to Dr R. Narayana, Director of Instruction (BS & H), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for facilities and encouragement.     

Effects of CO2 exposure on distribution of various forms of iron and copper in guinea-pig tissues

Summary The effects on iron and copper distribution and metabolism of exposure to high levels of CO₂ were studied in the guinea-pig. Mature, male animals were placed in an atmosphere of 15% CO₂, 21% O₂ (balance N₂), and sacrificed from 1 h to 1 week thereafter. Total iron and copper concentrations of blood, liver, spleen and bone, as well as concentrations of heme and ferritin iron, were measured together with blood hematocrit, reticulocytes, plasma hemoglobin, plasma ceruloplasmin and copper concentrations. The results show clearly that rapid and sustained red cell damage or hemolysis ensued several h from the start of CO₂ treatment. This resulted in loss of iron and copper from the blood, an influx of both elements into liver, spleen and bone, and a rise in plasma ceruloplasmin. Influx of iron into liver and spleen caused an accumulation of ferritin, the main site for iron storage in cells. Following the effect on red cells, there was an accumulation of heme iron, and a decreased hematocrit, best explained by a depressed activity of the reticuloendothelial and erythropoietic systems. A period of adaptation succeeded these events, in which all blood parameters and most tissue values returned to normal, despite the continuing presence of high CO₂. The only changes not reversed were the elevations in liver, spleen and bone iron stores. These remained high, with a net accumulation of >2 mg iron, or 3–4 times more than originally present. The results indicate that at least in the guinea-pig, high CO₂ exposure results in red cell damage and other events leading to an accumulation of additional iron in the body; also, that iron accumulated as ferritin and hemosiderin in liver and spleen may not be readily available to restore blood hemoglobin concentrations on an acute basis.Acknowledgments. We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Joan R. Moor and Lakshmi Vulimiri with these studies, and the support of Grants No. 17249 and HL22410 from the U.S. Public Health Service.     

Galactose-l-phosphate uridyl transferase activity in red cells of various animal species

Summary Monkey red cells were chosen as controls in tests of human red cell galactose-l-phosphate uridyl transferase, after comparing activities and isozyme patterns of the enzyme from several domestic or laboratory-bred species.     

Unterschiede der ATPase-Hemmung durch Azid in weissen und roten Muskelfasern der Ratte

Summary With a simple test — inhibition of the Mg-activated ATPase in a total homogenate of muscle by azide — it is possible to distinguish clearly between red and white muscle fibres. A number of muscles of the pelvic and thigh region of the rat are investigated by this method.