The role of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase in the regulation of membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats: an electron paramagnetic resonance investigation.

To determine a possible role of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) in the regulation of membrane functions in hypertension, we investigated the effects of ouabain on the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by means of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin labeling method. Erythrocytes obtained from SHR were examined compared with age matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and the EPR spectra for 5-nitroxide stearate incorporated into the erythrocyte membranes were studied. The value of order parameter (S) of the EPR spectra was significantly higher in the erythrocytes of SHR than in the erythrocytes of WKY rats (S value: SHR, 0.721+/-0.009, n = 10; WKY, 0.652+/-0.008, n = 10; P < .05). The finding shows that the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes was lower in SHR than in WKY rats. Ouabain loading to erythrocytes significantly decreased the membrane fluidity (S value was increased) in both SHR and WKY rats. The ouabain induced change was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY rats. These results demonstrate that the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes might be highly dependent on the Na+, K+-ATPase activity in SHR, which would suggest an abnormality in Na+ related cellular functions in hypertension.