Human red blood cell membrane potential and fluidity in glucose solutions

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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the membrane potential and fluidity changes of human red blood cells subjected to isotonic glucose solutions. For the control erythrocytes a membrane potential value of -10.1 +/- 1.8 mV was obtained, whereas erythrocyte membranes in diabetic cells were hyperpolarized, with a potential of -13.9 +/- 2.3 mV. Incubation of both types of red blood cells with increasing glucose concentrations resulted in a substantial hyperpolarization of the cell membranes. Glucose solutions in water had a much stronger effect on membrane potential than glucose dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline. Red blood cell membrane fluidity measurements using the fluorescent label TMADPH did not reveal any significant changes upon incubation with glucose.