7
Views
15
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original

Sodium and Potassium in Human Red Cells Variations among Centrifuged Cells

Pages 231-237 | Received 17 Dec 1973, Accepted 11 Feb 1974, Published online: 14 Feb 2011
 

Abstract

Separation of human red cells in fractions of different densities was obtained by centrifugation. Prior to the determination of red cell sodium, potassium, and water, trapped extracellular sodium was washed off, using an isotonic sodium-free solution. This method is described in some detail. High density cells had lost potassium and water. Potassium was lost in excess leading to a decrease in cellular potassium concentration. The cellular sodium content was not influenced by cell density, but as a consequence of the water loss, the sodium concentration was increased in the high density cells. While the density-related changes were dominated by the cellular loss of potassium and water, the changes related to digoxin treatment and to hypokalaemia were characterized by an equimolar increase, respectively decrease, in red cell sodium and potassium concentrations (density unchanged); the digoxin-and hypokalaemia-related changes were evenly distributed on the different density fractions and thus independent of cell density. Provided that the high density cells are stable cells in steady state, an increase in potassium permeability combined with an inhibition of active sodium and potassium transport might explain the observed changes in red cell sodium and potassium in the high density cells.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.