Human erythrocytes contain 217.2 +/- 70.5 pmole of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate per ml of packed cells (n = 14). The increased generation of Ins 1,4,5P3, was induced by 1 microM A 23187, 20 microM Pb2+, and by AlF4-. Ins 1,4,5P3, Pb2+ and AlF4- evoke shape changes, disorganisation of spectrin network and vesiculation. In erythrocytes of patients with hereditary spherocytosis the level of Ins 1,4,5P3 was increased to 556.7 +/- 374 pmole per ml of packed cells. We suggest that activation of the phosphoinositide signalling system may represent a common denominator for many divergent stimuli and defects which affect shape changes of erythrocytes.

Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Faculty of Sciences Charles University Prague Czechoslovakia