Abstract
Conclusions
1. Chicken erythrocytes exposed to a dilute toxin obtained from Micrococcus aureus progressively become more fragile prior to hemolysis. 2. These cells hemolyze more rapidly in isosmotic solutions of ethylene glycol and glycerol. 3. Swelling and shrinking measurements show that the toxin has little or no effect on the permeability of these cells to glycerol. 4. The fact that more of the toxin-treated cells hemolyze following shrinking and swelling in 0.3 M glycerol in Ringer Locke than do controls suggests that the toxin may weaken the membrane in some way. 5. A comparison between erythrocytes exposed to the toxin for 10 minutes and then washed and erythrocytes continuously in the presence of the toxin indicates that the toxin effects an immediate and irreversible change. 6. Even though diffusible toxin is removed by washing, some toxin apparently remains and gradually the cells hemolyze. This process occurs more rapidly if the diffusible toxin is not removed.
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