Fragmentation of red cell ghosts in relation to the problem of red cell structure

An indication as to whether a body is a solid or a hollow shell can be obtained by dividing it into a number of fragments and seeing whether the total volume of the fragments is substantially the same as, or smaller than, the initial volume of the body. If the former is the case, the indication is that the body is a solid, and if the latter is the case, the indication is that the body is a hollow shell. This test can be applied to the human red cell and to the human red cell ghost by heating them to temperatures between 49 and 540 C, a treatment which produces fragmentation into large enough fragments to be counted and to be thrown down by centrifuging, always provided that the cells and ghosts are discoidal (Ponder 1950a). METHODS (1) Preparation of discoidal ghosts Either of two methods is satisfactory. In the first, 1 vol. of a suspension, in 1 % NaCl, of washed human red cells from fresh heparinized blood is added to 4 vol. of water; the volume concentration of the cells in the suspension should be at least o-8. After standing for about 30 min. at 250 C, 1 vol. of 0-5 M-NajHPC ^ is added wit