Banding in Salamander erythrocytes: A shape change corresponding to disc-sphere transformation in mammalian red cells

Abstract

1. 1. Salamander erythrocytes under certain conditions show by phase contrast microscopy an alternately light and dark transverse striation or “banding”. 2. 2. The detailed form of “banded” cells is described, and the phase contrast appearance is considered to be due to variations in the thickness of the cell consequent upon a corrugation of the cell surfaces. 3. 3. The conditions producing banding are very similar to those causing disc-sphere transformation in mammalian red cells, especially the disc-sphere transformation between slide and coverslip. 4. 4. Banding occurs: ( a) when the cells are mounted in a saline medium, which is free of plasma albumin and of alkaline pH provided the surfaces of the slide or coverslip (or the medium itself) are contaminated with a lipoid “banding” (or sphering) factor; ( b) in plasma-albumin-free medium containing small (usually sublytic) quantities of various haemolysins. 5. 5. The significance of banding in the general problem of red cell structure is discussed.