On the lateral distribution of spicula on echinocytes

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Donath, E.^a | Pomorski, T.^a | Pastushenko, V.F.^b

Affiliations: [a] Humboldt-University, Department of Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Invalidenstraße 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany | [b] A.N. Frumkin Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskij Prospekt 31, 117071 Moscow, Russia

Abstract: Human erythrocytes were transformed to advanced stages of echinocytes by means of an increase of the pH, by addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol or by an increase in temperature. Scanning electron microscopy pictures were taken and the lateral distribution of the spicula was analyzed. Regardless of the method of the production of the echinocytes, no correlation of the spatial distribution of the spicula was detected. Except for the exclusion due to the finite size of the spicula basis, the distribution was random. The conclusion was drawn that the generation of spicula is a local process. No long-range ordering interaction between the spicula could be detected.

Keywords: Human erythrocytes, echinocytes, spicula distribution, shape transformation

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1993-305-616

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 30, no. 5-6, pp. 463-470, 1993