Differences in haemolytic action of Hg2+ in relation to its concentration and ionic strength of incubating solutions.

The haemolytic action of different concentrations of HgCl2 on rat red blood cells (RBC) was studied in vitro. The concentrations of HgCl2 in incubating media were 0.15, 0.25 and 0.50 mmol.l-1. The ionic strength of the media varied from 0 to 154 mmol.l-1 NaCl. Isotonicity of solutions was also compensated using isotonic glucose in different concentrations (287-0 mmol.l-1). Osmolarity of solutions varied from 287 to 308 mOsm. Besides these solutions the haemolysis in Krebs-Ringer solution was also studied. Haemolysis was characterized with two maxima in all concentrations of Hg2+. The first maximum was observed at low ionic strength and the second one at high ionic strength. In relation to the increased concentrations of Hg2+, the first maximum of haemolysis progressively declined towards the higher ionic strength. In the Krebs-Ringer solutions, the increased concentration of Hg2+ was followed by reduced haemolysis. The haemolytic concentration of 0.15 mmol.l-1 was found to be optimal.