ULTRACYTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SULFHYDRYL GROUPS IN RABBIT ERYTHROCYTIC MEMBRANE

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Abstract
Sulfhydryl groups in the rabbit erythrocytic membrane, intact and ghost, were ultracytochemically demonstrated using the Fast blue BBN (FBBBN) method, the mercury orange (MO) method and the mercuric chloride (MC) method. Reaction products were localized in the form of small particles or globules with a diameter of mostly 8.0-8.9 nm in the ghost membrane and 7.0-7.9 nm in the intact membrane by the FBBBN method, mostly 9.0-9.9 nm in the ghost membrane and 8.0-8.9 nm in the intact membrane by the MO method and mostly 8.0-8.9 nm in the ghost membrane and 7.0-7.9 nm in the intact membrane by the MC method. Particles were aligned in 1 or several rows within the membrane. Among the 3 methods, the most reproducible results were obtained with the FBBBN or MC method. Specimens incubated in the MC method and subsequently freeze-fractured showed intramembranous particles (IMP) which appeared slightly transformed when compared with the IMP in non-incubated freeze-fractured specimens. IMP are apparently shown by the ultracytochemical demonstration of sulfhydryl groups in the rabbit erythrocytic membrane.