In Vitro Hemolysis as Related to Rat Erythrocyte Content of α-Tocopherol and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to relate the amount of α-tocopherol required in rat erythrocytes for prevention of hemolysis in vitro to their polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition. Red cells of varying PUFA and α-tocopherol contents were produced in rats and their hemolysis by dialuric acid determined. The erythrocyte concentration of α-tocopherol required to prevent significant hemolysis ranged from 122 µg/100 ml packed cells when the peroxidizable index (PI) of the PUFA was lowest (linoleic acid-free diet), to 196 µg/100 ml when the PI was highest (5% corn oil in the diet). The average ratio µmoles α-tocopherol/µmole PUFA to prevent 10% hemolysis was 0.00089, or one molecule of α-tocopherol per 1100 molecules of PUFA. Over a wide range of blood α-tocopherol concentrations, the erythrocyte content was about 0.45 of that in plasma.