SUMMARY The levels of water, haemoglobin, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc were estimated in a young population of macrocytic erythrocytes produced following the administration of phenylhydrazine, in a young population of normocytic erythrocytes, produced in response to repeated bleeding, and in a normal mixed population of erythrocytes in the rabbit. Compared with the normal mixed population of erythrocytes the average macrocytic erythrocyte contained, per cell, increased amounts of haemoglobin, water, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper and a similar amount of sodium; per cu.μ of cell, increased amounts of water, potassium and calcium, reduced levels of haemoglobin and sodium, and similar levels of magnesium, zinc and copper; and per μl. of cell water, a decreased concentration of sodium which was accompanied by a reciprocal increase in the concentration of potassium. Compared with the normal mixed population of erythrocytes the average young normocytic erythrocyte contained, per cell, increased amounts of water, potassium and calcium, a decreased amount of sodium and similar amounts of magnesium, zinc, copper and haemoglobin; per cu.μ of cell, decreased amounts of haemoglobin and sodium, increased amounts of water and potassium and normal concentrations of magnesium, zinc and copper; and per μl. of cell water, a diminution in the concentration of sodium which was accompanied by a reciprocal increase in potassium. These results are discussed and it is postulated that these findings can be used to assess, indirectly, the chemical events that occur during the maturation of the erythrocyte precursors.
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Valberg et al. (1967) studied this question.