THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GLUTATHIONE CONTENT OF RAT ERYTHROCYTES AND THEIR HEMOLYSIS BY VARIOUS AGENTS IN VITRO

Abstract

Erythrocytes from rats on tocopherol-deficient diets are susceptible to hemolysis by dialuric acid or by shaking in an atmosphere of oxygen, whereas the erythrocytes from rats on tocopherol-supplemented diets are relatively insusceptible. The erythrocytes from the tocopherol-deficient and tocopherol-supplemented rats initially showed identical levels of free glutathione as determined by the alloxan "305" method; treatment with dialuric acid or exposure to oxygen reduced the glutathione levels in both groups of cells, yet in no case did the extent of hemolysis parallel the decrease in glutathione.Treatment of rat erythrocytes with selenite or iodoacetate or N-ethylmaleimide decreased the glutathione content of the cells to very low levels, yet there was little hemolysis. Silver nitrate, mercuric chloride, or p-chloromercuribenzoate, on the other hand, could cause complete hemolysis with little or no decrease in the levels of erythrocyte free glutathione. There were no significant differences between the erythrocytes from tocopherol-deficient and tocopherol-supplemented animals in these experiments.It is concluded that the susceptibility to hemolysis, under our experimental conditions, is not related to the level of erythrocyte glutathione. The heavy-metal sulphydryl reagents probably cause hemolysis by a direct action upon the erythrocyte membrane.