t-Butyl hydroperoxide-induced changes in the physicochemical properties of human erythrocytes.

Treatment of human erythrocytes with micromolar concentrations of t-butyl hydroperoxide causes a variety of changes in the physical properties of the cells. Red cells exposed to concentrations of t-butyl hydroperoxide of less than 750 microM for 15 min exhibited significant decreases in cellular and membrane deformability, increases in membrane-associated protein cross-linking, osmotic fragility and the viscosity of the intracellular hemoglobin solution. No changes in the volume or density of the cells were observed. Changes in cellular deformability are probably attributable solely to changes in the mechanical properties of the cell membrane. Conversely, when red cells are exposed to t-butyl hydroperoxide concentrations in excess of 750 microM for 15 min they exhibited decreases in cellular deformability which may be related to increases in cell volume as well as membrane rigidity.