The influx of calcium ions into human erythrocytes during cold storage. The influences of extracellular pH, intracellular adenosine triphosphate and efflux of univalent cations.

1. When human erythrocytes are stored at 3 degrees C for several days as a suspension in iso-osmotic sucrose or KCl, containing CaCl(2), the rates of cellular ATP degradation are similar. 2. During cold storage of erythrocytes in sucrose-CaCl(2) medium, Ca(2+) influx and univalent-cation efflux occur, the pH value of the suspending medium rises and the intracellular pH falls. These pH changes correlate reasonably well with alterations in the membrane potential calculated from Cl(-) distribution. 3. The presence of Ca(2+) in the medium does not increase the rate of univalent-cation efflux from the cells. 4. When the pH of the medium is raised by addition of buffers, the rates of both Ca(2+) influx and univalent-cation efflux increase. 5. Replacement of sucrose by KCl as the main osmotic component of the medium completely suppresses Ca(2+) influx and univalent-cation efflux, although the pH of the KCl medium is higher than that of the sucrose medium. 6. When sucrose is replaced by choline chloride, Ca(2+) influx and univalent-cation efflux still occur, and the pH of the medium is similar to that found in iso-osmotic KCl. 7. When valinomycin, Pb(2+) or Cd(2+) are added to the iso-osmotic sucrose medium, the rate of efflux of univalent cations increases as also does the influx of Ca(2+). 8. From these and other observations, it was concluded that it is univalent-cation efflux rather than ATP depletion or elevated extracellular pH which is the prerequisite for Ca(2+) influx during cold storage.