Effect of experimental anemias on cation concentrations of the erythrocytes of sheep

¹ Department of Physiology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

The concentrations of potassium in the erythrocytes of sheep increased by a mean value of 30.9 mEq/liter of cells during experimental anemias. The concentrations of sodium decreased slightly, but the ratio of potassium to sodium was greater during anemia. These changes were demonstrated in sheep with genetically inherited low concentrations of potassium in erythrocytes as well as in those with high concentrations. The reticulocytes were separated from mature erythrocytes by centrifugation, and they contained about 101–128 mEq K⁺/liter of cells. Their mean corpuscular hemoglobin was about 20 µµg and their mean corpuscular volume about 100 µ³. The frequency curve of distribution according to volume was bimodal during anemia. It is concluded that the changes observed during anemia were the result of the addition of these reticulocytes to the total population and that either these cells were immature forms which had not undergone the full series of mitotic divisions, or alternatively they could be fetal-type cells.

Key Words: reticulocytes • erythropoiesis • hemoglobin • frequency distribution of erythrocytes • genetic phenotypes of sheep • potassium in erythrocytes

Submitted on December 11, 1964