STABILIZATION OF SHAPE OF SICKLED CELLS BY CALCIUM AND A23187

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (6) , 899-909
Abstract
Evaluation of the role of Ca in irreversible sickling was approached by treating sickled cells with Ca and the ionophore A23187. A Ca-dependent stabilization of the sickled cell shape was observed after reoxygenation of the cells in the presence of ionophore. At low Ca concentrations, this retention of sickled shape was maintained for periods up to 1 h. The morphology of the O2-stable sickled cells was like that of deoxygenated sickle cells and significantly different from the characteristic morphology of native irreversibly sickled cells (ISC). Because the stabilized cells did not fulfill the morphological criterion for ISC, the shape-stabilizing effect of Ca in this system did not provide additional support for the hypothesis that Ca accumulation was the determining factor in ISC generation.

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