Kinetic Analysis of the Permeability of Human Erythrocytes to NH4Cl

Abstract

A densimeter technique was used to make a kinetic analysis of the rate of swelling of human erythrocytes suspended in 1% NaCl following successive additions of NH4Cl. Two series of experiments were performed, one in the absence of and the other in the presence of 6 x 10-4 M NaHCO3. An analysis of the data using Widdas's equations gave a family of curves in each instance. When LeFevre's equation was used with a value of ø = 1.3 isotones, a straight line was obtained with both series of data. It is concluded that this system shows carrier kinetics.