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J. E. Lovelock 



strongly supports the notion that the changes in the cells 

 during cold storage are similar to those induced by enforced 

 diffusion. 



If the dissolution of the cell during cold storage is preceded 

 by the diffusion and dispersion of its membrane, it would be 

 expected that the rate of dissolution would be inversely 

 related to the viscosity of the medium and directly related to 

 the solubility of the membrane material. Some confirmation 

 of this is provided by the results shown in Figs. 6 and 7 where 



10 



20 



DAYS 



30 



Fig. 7. The spontaneous haemolysis of red cells at 0° 

 in NaCl solutions. The cells were suspended in lightly 

 buffered NaCl solutions pH 7 • containing • 1 per cent 

 glucose. The NaCl concentrations used are shown on 

 the figure. 



the spontaneous haemolysis of red cells in NaCl at 0° is seen 

 to be inversely related to the viscosity of the medium and 

 directly related to the NaCl concentration; the solubility of 

 stroma lipoprotein bears a direct relationship to ionic strength. 

 The effect of storage temperature on the rates of diffusion, 

 metabolism, haemolysis and the death of the cells, as judged 

 by their failure to survive when transfused, are shown in 

 Fig. 8. The rates of glycolysis of the cells which are an index of 

 their metabolism are taken from the data of Chaplin el al. 



