Citation

Szeremeta M, Petelska AD, Kotyńska J, Niemcunowicz-Janica A, Figaszewski ZA. J. Membr. Biol. 2013; 246(9): 717-722.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona St. 13, 15-230, Bialystok, Poland, michalszeremeta@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00232-013-9591-2

PMID

23989400

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate postmortem changes of electric charge of human erythrocytes and thrombocytes after fatal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The surface charge density values were determined on the basis of the electrophoretic mobility measurements of the cells carried out at various pH values of electrolyte solution. The surface charge of erythrocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning as well as after sudden unexpected death increased compared to the control group in the whole range of experimental pH values. Also, a slight shift of the isoelectric point of erythrocyte membranes to high pH values was observed. The surface charge of thrombocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning decreased at low pH compared to the control group. However, at high pH, the values increased compared to the control group. The isoelectric point of thrombocyte membranes after fatal CO poisoning was considerably shifted toward low pH values compared to the control group. The observed changes are probably connected with the destruction of blood cell structure.

Language: en