1: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A  1977 May;74(5):1923-7 

Hemolysis of human erythrocytes by transient electric field.

Kinosita K Jr, Tsong TT.

Exposure of human erythrocytes, under isotonic conditions, to a high voltage
pulse of a few kV/cm leads to total hemolysis of the red cells. Experiments
described herein demonstrate that the hemolysis is due to the effect of electric
field. Neither the effect of current nor the extent of the rapid Joule-heating
to the suspending medium shows a direct correlation with the observed hemolysis.
Voltage pulsation of the erythrocyte suspension can induce a transmembrane
potential across the cell membrane and, at a critical point, it either opens up
or creates pores in the red cells. In isotonic saline the pores are small. They
allow passage of potassium and sodium ions but not sucrose and hemoglobin
molecules. The pores are larger in low ionic conditions and permit permeation of
sucrose molecules, but under no circumstances can hemoglobin leak out as the
direct result of the voltage pulse. Kinetic measurements indicate that the
hemolysis of the red cells follows a stepwise mechanism: leakage of ions leads
to an osmotic imbalance which in turn causes a colloidal hemolysis of the red
cells. Other effects of the voltage pulsation are also discussed.

PMID: 266714 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]