Biophysical responses of red cell-membrane systems to very low concentrations of inorganic mercury

Cell Biophysics
H C Mel, T A Reed

Abstract

Changes in red blood cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility are indicators of altered condition and/or altered regulatory processes at the whole cell and membrane levels. An agent, such as HgCl2, that brings about specific changes of this kind can therefore serve as a selective probe of such cell condition and regulatory state. Conversely, for a health-threatening agent "active" in this way, the cell-membrane responses serve to clarify the more fundamental bases of its toxicity, as well as to permit identification and characterization of its early and low-level actions on living systems. Taking advantage of recent advances in the technique of "resistive pulse spectroscopy," we present a coordinated study of these three interrelated biophysical properties for the interactions of HgCl2 with human red cells. We thereby are able to extend previous studies of this kind into domains of shorter time (instantaneous exposures), lower level exposures (down to 10(-9) M, well below the level of acute human toxicity), as well as to additional kinds of responses (e.g., "dynamic osmotic hemolysis"). For conditions ranging from 10(-4) to 10(-9) M in HgCl2, for instantaneous to 90-min-incubated exposures, for medium osmolarities from 1...Continue Reading

References

Oct 1, 1979·Chemico-biological Interactions·G G Berg, E F Miles
Jun 1, 1977·Japanese Journal of Pharmacology·R Tanaka, K Nakai
Aug 1, 1976·Toxicology·M I HilmyA H Abbas
Feb 1, 1973·Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine·M A Lessler, M I Walters
Aug 1, 1967·Journal of Cellular Physiology·A F RegaR I Weed
Apr 1, 1967·Journal of Cellular Physiology·R M SutherlandR I Weed
Jan 1, 1980·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·M R ClarkS B Shohet
Feb 1, 1954·The Journal of Experimental Medicine·R DULBECCO, M VOGT
Jan 1, 1962·The Journal of General Physiology·R WEEDA ROTHSTEIN

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 28, 2008·Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics·Jinseok HeoSusan Z Hua
Nov 22, 2005·Drug and Chemical Toxicology·Ricardo BrandãoMarcelo Farina
Sep 3, 2009·Toxicology in Vitro : an International Journal Published in Association with BIBRA·Erzsebet FarkasGaspar Banfalvi
May 20, 2020·Lab on a Chip·Yuncheng ManUmut A Gurkan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.