Cadmium-induced changes in cation-osmotic haemolysis in rats

Erythrocyte microrheology changes were measured using cation-osmotic haemol ysis (COH) in healthy rats and rats after 6 and 12 months of cadmium ingest ion. Using COH properties of two membrane constituents, spectrine membrane skeleton and membrane bilayer, were studied. COH in rats after 6 months of cadmium ingestion was significantly lower only in the area with lower ionic strength. However, longer intake of cadmium (12 months) induced decrease o f COH in both areas, with lower and also with higher ionic strength. The re lation between cation-osmotic haemolysis and erythrocyte deformability is b eing discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.