Effect of chlorpromazine low concentrations on human erythrocyte distribution by spherical index and on time period of hypotonic hemolysis

Abstract

The possible consequences of the chlorpromazine (CP) effect at low concentrations after its incorporation into erythrocyte membranes were analyzed. Erythrocyte distribution by spherical index and the rate of hemolysis in the hypotonic medium were studied at 0.125 mM and 0.25 mM CP. The investigation showed the non-uniform response of erythrocytes from different donors to CP introduced into suspension. Samples were divided into two groups according to their reaction to CP. In the first group of donors, the CP introduction invokes a full or partial shift of the distribution curves towards larger values of the spherical index. In the second group, CP introduction resulted in the increase of cell density in low spherical index interval. Thus, the interaction of amphiphile substances with a membrane bilayer can evoke controversial effects. One of the possible effects of CP is the intercalation of alkyl regions into the membrane bilayer. This can lead to an increase in membrane surface. On the other hand amphiphile incorporation into lipid bilayer can lead to the formation of inverted micelles. In this case the membrane surface diminishes comparing to the native one at the expense of transition of a part of membrane material to the described phase. Thus, both membrane surface stretching and constriction phenomena are equally probable in the examined CP concentration interval and depend on the population state of a donor.