Effect of postirradiation treatment on the radiation-induced haemolysis of human erythrocytes.

The effect of postirradiation conditions on the haemolysis of y-irradiated (2.1 kGy) human erythrocytes was studied. Haemolysis was inhibited by incubation in mannitol and sucrose instead of saline, by hypertonicity of the medium and by calcium chelators. Dithiothreitol, butylated hydroxytoluene, deferoxamine, DIDS (in inhibitor of anion exchange) and furosemide (an inhibitor of K/Cl and K/Na/Cl cotransport) did not slow down the haemolysis. Apparently, the radiation-induced haemolysis is due to the formation of membrane pores leaky for electrolytes. From the inhibition of haemolysis by mannitol, apparent pore radius was estimated to be about 0.7 nm. The pores appear to be transient, the average pore number per cell being much less than unity.