AMIODARONE AFFECTS MEMBRANE WATER PERMEABILITY PROPERTIES OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES AND RAT MITOCHONDRIA

Dose-dependent water exchange times and intracellular water contents w ere measured by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) in erythrocytes and m itochondria interacted with the anti-anginal and anti-arrhytmic agent, amiodarone. Addition of the drug up to 26 mu M yielded 80% enhancemen t of the water exchange rate in erythrocytes at 37 degrees C and 41% e nhancement at 22 degrees C with 40% and 9%, respectively, increases in the intracellular water content. Similar enhancements were obtained i n mitochondria at 22 degrees C. The data suggests a somewhat higher af finity of amiodarone to mitochondrial than to erythrocyte membranes.