I. Contributions to the Study of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin. II. A Rapid Diagnostic Test for Sickle Cell Anemia

Citation

Itano, Harvey Akio (1950) I. Contributions to the Study of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin. II. A Rapid Diagnostic Test for Sickle Cell Anemia. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/J454-PF24. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-02222007-084824

Abstract

The red blood cells of individuals who have either sickle cell anemia or sicklemia possess the capacity to undergo reversible changes in shape in response to changes in the partial pressure of oxygen. When the oxygen pressure is lowered, these cells change their forms from the normal biconcave disk to crescent, holly wreath, and other forms. This process, known as sickling, occurs more readily in sickle cell anemia than in sicklemia. The evidence available at the time this investigation was begun indicated that the process of sickling might be intimately associated with the state and nature of the hemoglobin in the sickle cell erythrocyte. Electrophoretic investigations revealed a difference in net charge between the hemoglobins of normal individuals and sickle cell anemia individuals. The hemoglobin from the erythrocytes of sicklemic individuals was found to consist of two electrophoretic components, identifiable with sickle cell anemia hemoglobin and normal hemoglobin. The globins derived from these hemoglobins cannot be distinguished from each other on the basis of electrophoretic experiments. Titration studies on these hemoglobins failed to reveal any significant differences in number and type of ionizable groups. A rapid chemical method was developed for producing sickle cells by the use of sodium dithionite.

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