Comparative study of transition temperature in adult and newborn human red blood cells.

Hypotonic haemolysis of newborn and adult human red blood cells (RBC) is more intensive at 4 than at 37 degrees C. Newborn RBC are more resistant to the decrease of temperature than adult RBC. Transition temperature of the RBC membrane can well be determined by illustrating osmotic haemolysis as a function of temperature. This parameter characterizes well the microviscosity of the membrane. The inclination point of Arrhenius curves representing transition temperature occurred always at 25 degrees C both in the case of adult and newborn RBC. The similarity of the transition temperature indicates the similarity of membrane microviscosity of newborn and adult human RBC.