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 peroxides and this closely paralleled the degree of hemolysis. Shaking of the red cells from tocopherol-deficient animals in an atmosphere of oxygen also resulted in a slow lipid peroxidation which again paralleled the degree of hemolysis. Addition of α-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 peroxide 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.