THE ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF HEMOLYZED SUSPENSIONS OF MAMMALIAN ERYTHROCYTES

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the changes in the electric surface capacity and surface resistivity of the membrane surrounding the mammalian red corpuscle, as a result of various types of hemolysis. In the case of hemolysis with water, the cells swell with no apparent change in the electric properties of the membrane. They then hemolyze, but the membrane persists, although showing evidence of injury, as indicated by a change in the frequency dependence of its capacity and resistivity at low frequencies. The fact that a change of the frequency dependence takes place shows that the injury cannot be due merely to a rupture in the membrane, but must be due to changes in the properties (increased permeability) of the membrane as a whole.