Lead-induced changes of cation-osmotic hemolysis in rats.

Erythrocyte microrheology changes were measured using cation-osmotic hemolysis (COH) in healthy rats and rats after 6 and 12 months of lead ingestion Using COH, properties of two membrane constituents, spectrine membrane skeleton and membrane bilayer were studied COH in rats after 12 months of lead inges­ tion was significantly lower only in the area with lower ionic strength (15 4 61 6 mmol 1 _1 of NaCl) (p < 0 01 resp p < 0 05) No changes in COH were found after 6 months of continuous lead ingestion The relation between cation-osmotic hemolysis and erythrocyte deformability is being discussed