Abstract.The phenomenon of red cell lysis in urea was investigated for both normal and Jk(a‐b‐) red cells. Using14C urea, urea was shown to be transported across the membrane in both cell types. In normal cells this resulted in an influx of water, cell swelling and complete lysis within 2 min. However, in Jk(a‐b‐) red cells, the presence of urea above 300 mMslowed water movement and delayed hemolysis for at least 15 min. Similar effects could be induced by pretreating normal red cells withp‐chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) or by raising the pH of the urea soluti
展开▼
