The erythrocyte membrane in essential hypertension. Modified temperature-dependence of Li+ efflux.

The rate of ouabain-resistant Li+-efflux was studied in erythrocytes of normal controls and of patients with essential hypertension. Despite variability in rate, erythrocytes from normotensive persons revealed a uniform pattern of temperature dependence of the efflux, with two slopes (K = 9.4 and 19.1 kcal/mol, respectively) and a transition at about 25 degrees C. Erythrocytes from the patients showed both a higher rate of Li+ efflux and significant changes in the temperature response, with essentially a single slope (Ka = 14 kcal/mol). The data indicate localized changes in the membrane organization of hypertensive erythrocytes, involving lipid-protein interaction.