KINETICS OF ETHANOL-INDUCED HEMOLYSIS OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES

Hemolysis of human erythrocytes induced by the high ethanol concentrat ions involves several stages, which are reflected by the kinetic curve s of hemolysis. These stages are of colloid-osmotic nature. Ethanol de naturation of membrane proteins and their subsequent aggregation can b e responsible for appearance of defects, pores, in the erythrocyte mem brane. About 15 ethanol molecules participate in formation of one pore . Sucrose weakly diffusing through the formed pores inhibits the ethan ol-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes. On the contrary, the hyperosmoti c contraction of erythrocytes in the NaCl-or KCl - containing medium i ncreases the efficiency of the hemolysis. The maximum stability of the erythrocytes to the ethanol action is at the pH 7.2-7.3.