Altered potassium permeability in vitamin E-deficient rat erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes of vitamin E-deficient rats were investigated as an in vivo model of oxidant stress and cellular aging. To measure possible membrane damage related to the enhanced oxidant stress, the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane to potassium was determined. Rates of non-hemolytic potassium loss were calculated from comparison of total potassium loss and hemolysis rates. The non-hemolytic potassium loss rates for erythrocytes of vitamin E-deficient rats were as much as 2.5-fold higher than controls. The abnormally high permeability of vitamin E-deficient rat erythrocytes indicates molecular damage at the membrane level, and may be significant to our understanding of the normal aging process in erythrocytes and other cells.