Effect of Extracellular Alkali Metal Salts on the Electric Parameters of Human Erythrocytes in Normal and Pathological Conditions (Homozygous β-Thalassemia)

The conductivity of human erythrocyte cells dispersed in various uni-univalent electrolyte solutions (NaCl, KCl, LiCl, CsCl; 0.15 ᴍ) have been measured in the frequency range from 10 KHz to 100 MHz at five temperatures between 5 and 45 °C. The results were analyzed in the light of the theory of conductivity polarization of a suspension of ellipsoidal particles covered with two confocal shells. Differences in the electrical parameters of the membrane between normal and homozygous β-thalassemic cells have been evidentiated.