[The effect of thyroliberin on the structural characteristics of rat erythrocytes].

The effect of regulatory peptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the structure of the plasma membrane and morphology of rat erythrocytes was studied using a spin probe and scanning electron microscopy. EPR spectra of the spin probe introduced in the intramembrane space demonstrate that TRH at 10(-7) and 10(-3) M induces structural changes in the erythrocyte membrane. Scanning electron microscopy showed that introduction of TRH at 10(-11), 10(-7), and 10(-3) M in the erythrocyte suspension increased the proportion of discocytes as compared to the control. This effect is due to TRH-induced cell transformation in discocytes. The obtained data suggest that TRH affects the membrane structure and the morphology of erythrocytes, changes the functional activity of these cells and, thus, indirectly influences the rate of the oxygen supply to tissue.