Abstract
Summary
The stabilizing effect of hydrocortisone sodium succinate (HSS) on sheep erythrocytes was demonstrated after the erythrocytes were modified with phospholipase C (PLC). Since this enzyme removes the phosphoryl amine moiety of the membrane phospholipids, and the modified cells had 88% of the lipid phosphate removed, the stabilizing effect of the steroid apparently does not require the participation of the phosphoryl amines. The stability of intact as well as PLC-modified erythrocytes was tested by hypotonic hemolysis in the presence and absence of HSS. Removal of the lipid phosphate by the enzyme labilized the cell membrane, but the stabilizing effect of HSS on the cell membrane was not altered by treatment with PLC. In additon to stabilizing the cell membrane, inhibiton of PLC activity by HSS was also demonstrated.
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