The Protective Action of Tocopherol Against Hemolysis of Rat Erythrocytes by Dialuric Acid

Abstract

Erythrocytes from rats on tocopherol-deficient and tocopherol-supplemented diets gave similar low values for lipid peroxides by the thiobarbituric acid test. Treatment of the cells from tocopherol-deficient rats with dialuric acid caused a marked increase in lipid peroxitles and this closely paralleled the degree of hernolysis. Shaking of the red cells from tocopherol-deficient arlimals in a n atmosphere of oxygen also resulted in a slow lipid peroxidatio~l which again paralleled the degree of hernolysis. Addition of a-tocopherol to a suspension of erythrocytes from tocopherol-deficient rats decreased or completely prevented (depending upon concentration) hemolysis by dialuric acid and also decreased lipid peroxitle formation.It is concluded that dialuric acid probably acts by catalyzing the formation of lipid peroxides in the unsaturated lipids of the membrane of erythrocytes from tocopherol-deficient animals. Tocopherol presumably inhibits peroxide formation, and therefore hemolysis, by virtue of its antioxidant action.

Effects of in vivo hyperoxia on erythrocytes. 3. In vivo peroxidation of erythrocyte lipid.

“…Work in other laboratories and our own studies had linked high oxygen tensions, erythrocyte lysis, and lipid peroxidation in vitro (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17), and previous studies in this laboratory had suggested their relationship in vivo (21)(22)(23). The present studies establish the fact that peroxidation of erythrocyte lipid can occur in vivo during exposure to oxygen under high pressure.…”

“…Since no tocopherol assays were performed on erythrocytes, plasma, or other tissues of these mice, the question of their tocopherol status merits comment. Excellent evidence of their tocopherol deficiency was provided by the accentuated lysis and lipid peroxidation of their erythrocytes by hydrogen peroxide, as compared to normal mouse erythrocytes (11,13,14,19). Whereas susceptibility to lipid peroxidation can be increased by diet-induced alterations in composition of erythrocyte lipid, specifically by an increase in erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid content, this was unlikely in these experiments since the diet contained 10%o lard rather than unsaturated fatty acids.…”

“…Studies in this laboratory and in others have linked in vitro peroxidation of erythrocyte lipid and hemolysis (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Some observations had suggested that oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids might occur in vivo (11,19,20). However, to date the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in vivo has not been unequivocally demonstrated, and therefore its biologic significance has not been established.…”

Peroxidative Hemolysis of Red Blood Cells from Patients with Abetalipoproteinemia (Acanthocytosis)*

“…The possibility of a comparable lipid alteration occur-experimental animals (3,4,7,9,10) and man (5,11,12). Recently, Kayden and Silber reported that patients with abetalipoproteinemia (acanthocytosis) were deficient in vitamin E; in fact, the serum tocopherol levels were the lowest reported for man (13).…”

Erythropoietic Protoporphyria: Lipid Peroxidation and Red Cell Membrane Damage Associated with Photohemolysis

“…The association of the oxidative breakdown of cell membrane UFA with hemolysis has been noted in studies of normal and vitamin E-deficient erythrocytes exposed to oxidizing agents (30,(50)(51)(52). Mengel and his coworkers, in a series of investigations evaluating the hemolytic effects of hyperbaric oxygenation, demonstrated that lipid peroxidation preceded hemolysis both in vitro and in vivo (53,54).…”