OSMOTIC PROPERTIES OF THE ERYTHROCYTE

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Abstract
1. In NaCl solutions of concentrations from about 0.02M to 0.07M or 0.08M the rate of hemolysis of ox blood is related to the concentration of the solution as if the process were governed by simple osmotic laws. 2. The permeability constant for water over this range is between one-half and one-third as great as that previously found for non-electrolyte solutions. At concentrations below 0.02M the calculated " constant" changes with the concentration of the solution in a manner indicative of the presence of non-osmotic factors of some sort. 3. The retarding effect upon hemolysis of dilute solutions of electrolytes increases rapidly with the valence of the cations present. The valence of the anions is much less important but, if anything, acts in the opposite sense. 4. The tentative suggestion is offered that under certain conditions ionic forces may modify to an appreciable extent the rate of the osmotic intake of water by the erythrocyte.

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