In vitro hemolysis of erythrocytes from vitamin E deficient rats and chicks.

Abstract

Summary.When red blood cells of rats deficient in vitamin E are suspended in isotonic (0.9%) NaCl solution and allowed to stand overnight at room temperature, extensive spontaenous hemolysis occurs. This oxidative process is accelerated by incubating the suspensions at higher temperatures, hemolysis being nearly complete within one hour at 47° C.Hemolysis did not occur when purified N2 had been bubbled through the erythrocyte suspension in saline to remove free O2.Although dialuric acid increases the rate of hemolysis, the presence of this substance, hydrogen peroxide, or other added autoxidizable compound or oxidizing agent is not essential to the process.The incorporation of small amounts of methylene blue in the diet of vitamin E deficient rats affords marked but incomplete protection against in vitro hemolysis.Erythrocytes from tocopherol‐depleted chicks (on an encephalomalacia producing diet) manifesting severe deficiency symptoms are much more resistant to hemolysis than are those from rats. Spontaneous hemolysis of chick red cells in saline solution was not noted within 24 hours even when the cell suspensions were incubated at temperatures up to 47° C for 7 hours. The addition of dialuric acid caused faint to moderate hemolysis within 4 hours in about half of the birds studied.It is concluded that whereas the in vitro hemolysis of red cells may be used for assessing vitamin E deficiency in the rat, it is not a reliable criterion for determining a deficiency of this vitamin in the chick.