Effect of erythropoietin on the different ATPases and acetylcholinesterase of rat RBC membrane.

The effect of Ep on different ATPases and acetylcholinesterase of rat RBC membrane was studied. Starvation caused a slight decrease in Mg2+-, Ca2+-, and Na+ + K+-ATPases. However, these enzyme activities were markedly increased on Ep treatment of starved rats. Specific activities of all three ATPases increased linearly with increasing concentration of Ep. Under identical conditions the hormone failed to stimulate the ATPase activity of liver plasma membrane. Desensitization by fluoride of allosteric inhibition of erythrocyte membrane-bound Na+ + K+-ATPase was observed under starvation which showed a return to normal n values on Ep administration. The enzyme from normal animals was inhibited almost completely at 0.1 mM fluoride whereas enzyme from starved and Ep-treated animals showed only about 50% inhibition at that fluoride concentration. Ep increased the acetylcholinesterase activity of normal RBC membrane to a small extent whereas the stimulation was much higher under starvation. The fluoride inhibition curve of this enzyme changed from sigmoidal to hyperbolic under starvation which again changed to allosteric on administration of Ep. These changes were closely correlated to n values. Red blood cells of Ep-treated animals became more susceptible to osmotic shock under the experimental conditions.