Permeability of Membrane to Potassium in Hypochromic Red Cells with Different Specific Density

Abstract

In hypochromic anemias (heterozygous .beta.-thalassemia and Fe deficiency anemia) lighter red cells lose more K+ than heavier ones, following incubation at 37.degree. C for 24 h. Both in the light and heavy fractions, 2 subpopulations of cells with different permeability to K+ can be separated by a new centrifugation after incubation. On the basis of the results, a relationship between K+ permeability and probability of survival in hypochromic cells is suggested.