Differential Lysis of Bovine and Canine Erythrocytes in Saline Versus Saponin: Relation to Cell Age 1

Abstract

Summary

Very young erythrocytes in cattle (normal or porphyric) appear to be relatively unique in showing markedly increased fragility in hypotonic saline. Most young erythrocytes in a normal dog, in contrast to earlier reports of acutely bled animals, were the most resistant to osmotic lysis. Saponin preferentially lysed young erythrocytes in a normal dog, as well as in a normal calf, and may thus have special value for preparation of hemolysates enriched in constituents of young red cells. Cell age in all studies was established by a single intravenous injection of glycine-2-¹⁴C or of ⁵⁹Fe-citrate; and age-dependent fragility determined by suitable isotope analyses of successive hemolysate fractions was carried out on bloods sampled periodically for up to 120 days.