A new technique to determine the rate of water passage through the membrane of the human erythrocyte under an osmotic gradient has been developed. It utilizes a rapid mixing apparatus of the Hartridge-Roughton type which permits measurements at short intervals after the reaction has begun. This is coupled with a light-scattering device of new design which permits the determination of very small changes in volume of the cells without disturbing them. With this technique it was possible to measure the change in volume of freshly drawn human erythrocytes after about 50, 100, 155, and 215 msec. of exposure to anisotonic media. The experimental curves were compared with theoretical curves derived from accepted equations for the process and a permeability coefficient of 0.23 ± 0.03 (cm.4/osm., sec.) was obtained.
Article|
November 20 1957
ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO HUMAN RED CELLS UNDER AN OSMOTIC PRESSURE GRADIENT
Victor W. Sidel,
Victor W. Sidel
From the Biophysical Laboratory of Harvard Medical School, Boston
Search for other works by this author on:
A. K. Solomon
A. K. Solomon
From the Biophysical Laboratory of Harvard Medical School, Boston
Search for other works by this author on:
Victor W. Sidel
From the Biophysical Laboratory of Harvard Medical School, Boston
A. K. Solomon
From the Biophysical Laboratory of Harvard Medical School, Boston
Received:
April 15 1957
Online ISSN: 1540-7748
Print ISSN: 0022-1295
Copyright, 1957, by The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
1957
J Gen Physiol (1957) 41 (2): 243–257.
Article history
Received:
April 15 1957
Citation
Victor W. Sidel, A. K. Solomon; ENTRANCE OF WATER INTO HUMAN RED CELLS UNDER AN OSMOTIC PRESSURE GRADIENT . J Gen Physiol 20 November 1957; 41 (2): 243–257. doi: https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.41.2.243
Download citation file: