The relationship between Ca2+-mediated polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase activity, 1, 2-diacylglycerol accumulation, and microvesiculation in erythrocytes.

A variety of morphologic and metabolic changes occur in erythrocytes in which the intracellular level of Ca2+ is increased. These include echinocytosis followed by microvesiculation, K+ efflux, ATP degradation, and activation of polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase with the formation of 1,2-diacylglycerol and phosphatidate. The relationships between these changes are discussed and an attempt is made to assess their significance in both normal and aged cells.