[Effects of sterols having different chemical structure and squalene on osmotic resistance of erythrocytes].

The effects of sterols having different chemical structure and squalene on osmotic resistance of erythrocytes were studied. Changes in sterol and squalene content in the membranes were induced by incubation of erythrocytes with liposomes containing the additive. A decrease of the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes was shown to correlate with a cholesterol decrease in the membranes. Cholesterol caused a stabilizing effect on the membranes. 7-Dehydroxycholesterol which, unlike cholesterol, has an additional double bond in the B ring stabilizes the erythrocyte membranes in a greater degree than does cholesterol. Injection of cholesterol oleate causes extensive hemolysis of erythrocytes. Injection of squalene into non-cyclic erythrocyte membranes does not change osmotic resistance of the erythrocytes.