The formation of Heinz bodies in ghosts of human erythrocytes of adults and newborn infants.

Abstract

Isolated membranes (ghosts) of human erythrocytes of newborn infants produce Heinz bodies faster after an exposure to acetylphenylhydrazine than the ghosts of adults. Heinz bodies form faster in ghosts prepared from erythrocytes of newborn infants, incubated in their own plasma or in the plasma of adults, than in ghosts of incubated red cells of adults. A direct relation can be seen between the hemoglobin content of the ghosts and the formation of Heinz bodies. It is suggested that the Heinz body susceptibility of normal human erythrocytes depends on the quantity of hemoglobin bound to the red cell membrane.