Influence of saponin on the electric parameters and the electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes

Structural changes in the membranes and charge changes on the cell surface of erythrocytes after saponin treatment were investigated by measuring the electric impedance of erythrocyte suspensions over the frequency range 0.5–20 MHz and the electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes. From the characteristic time behaviour of the specific membrane capacitance calculated it can be concluded that two types of structure changes occur if saponin of a sufficiently high concentration acts. This is in good conformity with electron microscopic investigations. The electrophoretic mobility data show that the surface charge of erythrocytes decreases with saponin action. This effect allows a possible explanation for the observed increase in the conductivity inside and outside the cells.