What Happens to Erythrocytes When Ca2+ Accumulates in The Outside and Inside of The Cell?

Abstract

The aim of our study is to examine the effect of extracellular and intracellular Ca ions (Ca2+) accumulation on human erythrocyte morphology. Ca2+ balance is important for the normal progression of body functions. It is also important to be able to sustain it intracellular functions. As Ca2+ accumulation is sourced from various diseases, it can cause various diseases. Excessive accumulation of Ca2+ in blood plasma has adverse effects on erythrocytes. In our study, the effect of Ca2+ on the surface area and volume of erythrocytes was studied by calculating the circularity of erythrocytes. In this study, the erythrocytes isolated from normal human blood were used. Erythrocytes were incubated with CaCl2 and sodium ortho-vanadate (SOV). SOV is a plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) blocker. Accumulation of Ca2+ in the cell was provided by SOV. Images of these erythrocytes were taken by scanning electron microscope. Morphological characteristics were examined using Image-J software. According to these datas, extracellular and intracellular Ca2+ accumulation decreased erythrocyte areas compared to the control group (p <0.001). At the same time, according to erythrocyte circularity values Ca2+ accumulation inside and outside of the cell made erythrocytes spherical compared to the control group. In this study, the volume calculations were made according to the circularity values of erythrocytes, and the surface area to volume ratios of erythrocytes were approximately calculated. According to these calculations, the SA/V values of the erythrocytes accumulating Ca2+ inside and outside the cell decreased when compared to the control group (p<0.05, p<0.01, p <0.001).

Keywords: Erythrocytes Morphology, Ca2+, Volume of Erythrocytes