The water diffusion across human erythrocyte membrane has been studied on intact cells
and resealed ghosts by a doping NMR technique. Although the water exchange time of
ghosts was longer than that of erythrocytes, no significant differences in their diffusional
permeability were noticed for temperatures in the range 2–43° C. Contrary to what was
previously noticed in erythrocytes, no significant increase in the water exchange time of
ghosts in the acid range of pH occurred.

The changes in water diffusion across human erythrocyte membranes following exposure to
various inhibitors and proteolytic enzymes have been studied on isolated erythrocytes
suspended in isotonic buffered solutions. An important issue was to investigate whether the
sulfhydryl reacting reagents that have been applied in osmotic experiments showed similar
effects on diffusional permeability. It was found that mercurials, including mersalyl, were the
only sulfhydryl reacting reagents that were efficient inhibitors. Under optimal conditions a …