ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes some of the effects of low ionic strength media on cells and concentrates on red blood cells since many investigations in this field have been carried out on this type of cell. When varying the ionic strength of the solution surrounding a cell one has to consider diverse effects caused by changes in the electric potential profile near the cell surface. For example, in a low ionic strength solution, the increase of the electric potential results in an enhancement of the intra- and intermolecular electrostatic repulsion or attraction of the charged sites. Decreasing the ionic strength of the extracellular solution without balancing its osmolarity usually results in an increase of the cell volume. However, in buffered isotonic low ionic strength solutions, changes in the intracellular pH and in the cell volume also can occur. The chapter discusses the possible mechanisms of the effect of low ionic strength solutions on the cells.
