Voltage pulsation of sickle erythrocytes enhances membrane permeability to oxygen.

Treatment of sickle red cells (SS homozygous) with a voltage pulse of less than 0.8 kV/cm and duration of 20 mus caused a change in the cell membrane, so as to facilitate the permeation of oxygen. The unsickling of the treated cells after a re-introduction of oxygen took place at a much faster rate. Neither leakages of Na+ and K+, nor a change in the cell volume occurred as the result of the low voltage pulsation. The effect of the voltage treatment persisted for hours at 25 degrees C but disappeared rapidly at 37 degrees C. The result suggests that a selective modification of membrane permeability may be achieved by the voltage pulsation technique.