Studies on the permeability of erythrocytes

Abstract

Ghosts of rabbit erythrocytes are rapidly permeable to Na and K ions, hence it was impossible to determine the time required for attaining diffusion equilibrium. The time required for 90% of the Hb to leave a cell undergoing hypo-tonic lysis varied from less than 1-10 sec according as the change in tonicity was brought about rapidly or slowly; the escape of Hb must therefore occur through one or more large holes in the membrane.