The diffusional water permeability (p) of sheep and cow red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been monitored by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on control cells and following inhibition with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS). 2. There were no significant differences in the water permeability of sheep and cow RBCs, the values of p being around 3 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 5 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 3. Systematic studies of the effects of PCMBS on water diffusion indicated that in both species the maximal inhibition is reached in 60-90 min at 37 degrees C with 1 mM PCMBS. 4. The degree of inhibition increased as the temperature of measurement decreased, regardless of PCMBS concentration and incubation time. 5. The values of maximal inhibition ranged from 60-70% at 20 degrees C to 50-60% at 37 degrees C in the case of sheep RBCs, and from 45-55% at 20 degrees C to 40-50% at 37 degrees C in the case of cow RBCs. 6. The basal permeability to water of sheep RBCs was estimated as 1.0 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 2.2 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C, and that of cow RBCs as 1.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 2.7 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 7. In both species the activation energy of water diffusion was around 23 kJ/mol in control cells and reached values of around 30 kJ/mol after incubation with PCMBS in conditions of maximal inhibition of water diffusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
