Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Describe the effects of cellmembrane damage.

Plasma membrane damage results in loss of osmotic balance and influx of fluids and ions as well as loss of proteins, enzymes, co-enzymes and ribonucleic acids. The cells may also leak metabolites, which are vital for the reconstitution of ATP thus further depleting net intracellular high energy phosphates. Injury to lysosomal membranes results in leakage of their enzymes into the cytoplasm and activation of these enzymes. Activation of these enzyme leads to enzymatic digestion of cell components resulting in loss of ribonucleoprotein, deoxyribonucleoprotein and glycogen and the cells die by necrosis.

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