HUMAN RED-BLOOD-CELL MEMBRANE-POTENTIAL AND FLUIDITY IN GLUCOSE SOLUTIONS

This study aimed to investigate the membrane potential and fluidity ch anges of human red blood cells subjected to isotonic glucose solutions . For the control erythrocytes a membrane potential value of -10.1+/-1 .8 mV was obtained, whereas erythrocyte membranes in diabetic cells we re hyperpolarized, with a potential of -13.9+/-2.3 mV. Incubation of b oth types of red blood cells with increasing glucose concentrations re sulted in a substantial hyperpolarization of the cell membranes. Gluco se solutions in water had a much stronger effect on membrane potential than glucose dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline. Red blood cell m embrane fluidity measurements using the fluorescent label TMA-DPH did not reveal any significant changes upon incubation with glucose.