Decreased erythrocyte membrane elevations in patients with a major depressive episode.

Washing of erythrocytes from healthy volunteers in an isotonic sodium chloride solution at pH 5.6 results in the occurrence of plasma membrane elevations as observed in freeze-etch electron microscopy. This is prevented by anion permeability inhibiting agents.

An improved specimen table for the Balzers freeze etching system BAF 400.

A time saving, simple and inexpensive adaptation of a Balzers specimen table is described. This specimen table is used in combination with the small specimen holders originally developed for the Denton Freeze-etching module. They are in particular suited for cell suspensions, and are easy to handle for freezing procedures.

The appearance of erythrocyte membrane elevations. Effects of cooling rates.

Low cooling rates during the freezing procedure of normal human blood reveals red cell membrane elevations in freeze-etch electron microscopy. When high cooling rate is applied, these morphological changes are present, if the blood samples are quenched from 5 degrees C. The number of elevations is strongly reduced by low pH and glycerol.

PH-dependent behavior of erythrocyte membrane elevations. II Occurrence in moderate acidemic and alkalemic conditions.

Changes of the number of red cell membrane elevations revealed by freeze-etch electron microscopy are pH-dependent in vitro and in vivo. In healthy volunteers a decrease of the number of red cell surfaces with elevations was observed under moderate acidemic and alkalemic conditions. These changes were different in patients with Huntington's chorea and affective psychotic disorders.