X-ray microanalysis of cation and hemoglobin contents in red blood cells.

From the results presented, it is clear that X-ray microanalysis can be used to determine the K and Na content in single red blood cells. With a simultaneous determination of Fe content and cation content, it is possible to deduce the sequence of events in the maturation of membrane transport function in relation to hemoglobin synthesis. This kind of deduction can only be made from a cell by cell analysis of the elemental contents. In addition, X-ray microanalysis can be used to measure other elements such as phosphate, which would permit a better understanding of the role of phosphate compound in volume regulation and metabolism of single red cells. Kinetic studies of active transport in single red cells are also possible by measuring the uptake of rubidium which is normally absent in the cell. Rubidium behaves like potassium in its transport characteristics in most red cells. The technique described here can be used to study the normal and the pathological state of single red cells and can also be applied to other single cells such as white cells, bacteria, and dispersed cells in tissue culture.