Factors Affecting Time to Hemolysis in Mammalian Erythrocytes

Factors Affecting Time to Hemolysis in Mammalian Erythrocytes

Abstract

Osmosis and diffusion have a wide range of applications and importance to both plants and animals. In plants, osmosis and diffusion applications include transportation of nutrients and water and carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange. Some of its applications in animals include use in kidney dialysis. Osmosis and diffusion are also applied in salt extraction. Osmosis and diffusion being an essential aspect in life, an experiment using mammalian erythrocytes was conducted to investigate the different factors affecting the rate of both Osmosis and diffusion. Some of the biological processes are supported by osmosis and diffusion. With the wide range of applications in our day to day lives, it is essential to understand how osmosis and diffusion work and the factors that may affect it. In this light, an experiment was conducted to determine the influence of molecular size and polarity on time to hemolysis in mammalian red blood cells. Data were collected during this experiment and tabulated. A descriptive statistical analysis was then done for data analysis. A significant difference was obtained as a result of the different factors that affect the rate of osmosis and diffusion. The research was guided by research questions that compassed the whole research. This study aims at improving the quality of life by providing a better understanding.

Introductione.

The control of the internal chemical environment of an organism and a cell is permitted by a membrane. The control of some metabolic pathways by alteration of the availability of the materials may result from substance movement regulation. Membranes comprise phospholipid bilayers hence the presence of protein molecules (Ge et al., 2018). The arrangement and nature of the lipids and proteins produce a selectively permeable membrane. Allowing some materials to cross the membrane and others rarely easily or not crossing the membrane. Water, which is polar, can cross membranes due to its small size. Both osmosis and diffusion aim at forces equalization within cells and organisms wholesomely. Circulation of necessary chemicals, nutrients, and water occurs from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration (Mahaparale et al., 2019). The free energy of the water molecules causes water movement. Higher water concentration results in high free energy and low solute concentration. It is important to understand diffusion and osmosis processes because useful molecules enter body cells, and waste products are removed for basic survival. This study aims at osmosis and diffusion study by focusing on the rate of hemolysis of RBCs in different propanol solutions.

Methods

Hypothesis

Hemolysis time will differ in each propanol test solution; the least time is taken coming from 1-propanol and the maximum time of hemolysis from solution 1,3-propanediol.

Research Method

The research method that was employed for this study was quantitative. Numerical data collection was conducted, and analysis and interpretation of the same data were performed.

Research Question

For a guided study to be conducted, some research questions were formulated and used as a guide for the study; these research questions include; what is the rate of hemolysis in RBCs in different solutions, does size and polarity affect time to hemolysis.

Data Collection

To collect data, some experiments were conducted by the researcher, and the results recorded for analysis purposes. To increase accuracy, different three replicates were used on each propanol test solution.

Data Analysis

To analyze the obtained data, the calculation of the average of different trials was done. A graph was then drawn from the results by placing the independent variable on the x-axis and the dependent variable on the y-axis. Time to hemolysis was used as an index. Descriptive statistical analysis was used (Ge et al., 2018).

Results

Time taken to hemolysis by test solution results was obtained. The results were then recorded for analysis purposes. The p-value obtained was <0.0001 and t-test results- B, showing that the results differed significantly. The higher the difference between upper CL and lower CL, the less the difference in a level. With an increase in mean, there is an increase in lower and upper 95% with equal or varying standard error (Ge et al., 2018). An increase in mean increases deviation between the different t solutions of propanol, as seen in the results. The 1-propanol solution took the least time to hemolysis, while 1,3-propanediol took the longest time before the mammalian erythrocytes ruptured.

Discussion

Mammalian erythrocytes were used to determine the time of hemolysis. The red blood cells have no nuclear and have a concave shape. It is the best-suited cell for this experiment as it represents the behavior of many other cells placed under the same conditions. Some of the factors that influence the diffusion rate include the size of particles, the charge of a molecule, polarity, and concentration. When placed in a hypotonic solution, e.g., water, erythrocytes swell, and rapture. RBCs were placed in hypotonic solutions, and hemolysis time is taken. There were the molecular size and polarity differences in the propanol test solutions used. 1-propanol, having the least hydrophobic molecular size, takes the least time to hemolysis, while 1,3-propanediol takes the most time, which suggests the larger hydrophobic molecular size and lower polarity (Mahaparale et al., 2019). Other than molecular size and polarity, the data can be influenced by the factors mentioned above. This knowledge is used during kidney dialysis and osmosis reversal for impurities and salt extraction from water. Some of the limitations faced include procedural and experimental errors while conducting the experiment, bias of the results by some uncontrollable extraneous variables. This experiment and the results obtained signify the importance of molecular size and polarity in osmosis and diffusion process even when the concentration is kept constant. Some variables are independent, while others are dependent. The ratio of the dependent variables can be obtained. An uncharged hypotonic molecule that is small in size and high polarity has lesser time to hemolysis.

Conclusion

Despite the different ways a molecule can cross a membrane, the rate of osmosis and diffusion is affected by the molecular size and the polarity. The smaller the molecular size and the higher the polarity, the faster the rate of osmosis and diffusion. The charge of the molecule and the concentration also affect osmosis and diffusion rate. Diffusion and osmosis have vast applications in our day to day lives. It is essential to understand both processes as they are applicable in real life, an example being kidney dialysis.

Works Cited

Ge, Duobiao, et al. “Simulation of the osmosis-based drug encapsulation in erythrocytes.” European Biophysics Journal 47.3 (2018): 261-270.

Mahaparale, Sonali, and Ashlesha P. Bhagat. “Resealed RBC’s: Method, Evaluation, Route of Administration, and Application.” Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 9.3 (2019): 219-226.