Electron probe microanalysis of red blood cells. II. Cation changes during maturation.

To understand the sequence of maturation of membrane transport and hemoglobin production during erythropoiesis, we have measured the K, Na, and Fe content in single mature red blood cells and bone marrow cells of dog using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Mature red blood cells of dog are low in potassium (LK) and high in sodium. These cells are derived from erythroblastic stem cells, which are high in potassium (HK) and low in sodium. This change from HK stem cells to LK red cells occurs in the marrow. The ratio of K/Na was found to be less than 0.2 independent of Fe/(K + Na) in circulating red cells. However, a significant number of marrow cells had both low K/Na and low Fe/(K + Na). We conclude that the changes in cation transport properties responsible for the conversion of HK to LK cells occur before the synthesis of hemoglobin in at least some marrow cells.