Neonatal red blood cell lysis induced by hypertonic low ionic strength media.

Human neonatal red cells (placental blood) incubated in hypertonic sucrose media showed a significative lytic process in a relatively short time interval. The addition of sodium chloride into the sucrose media reduced the extent of hemolysis. In contrast, the addition of calcium chloride enhanced the hemolysis in these red cells. Calcium-membrane components complex formation that destabilize membrane's bilayer structure would explain the calcium effect above mentioned (on account of the low ionic strength media used and exposed fixed negative charges) This study intends to clarify, in neonatal red cells, the relation between surface charges and cellular stability.