The effect of silicon compounds on blood cell membranes

Abstract

Silicon compounds play an essential role in metabolic processes, participate in oxidative reactions and are able to change the surface potential of blood cells, which is determined by the structural integration of cell membranes [1]. If found, the compounds of this element, increasing the structural stability of cell membranes would allow one to control the sensitivity of cells to external environmental effects and provide a remedy for curing cells and the organism as a whole. We have established that in the development of haemolytic anaemia of different types the introduction of silatranes, XSi(OCH 2CH 2) 3N with X = CH 3, ClCH 2, C 2H 5O, (CH 3) 2CHO and HO which are efficient silicon donors [2, 3] increases the stability of blood red cell membranes manifested in a high osmotic and chemical resistance. The haemolytic processes are always accompanied by the peroxidation of lipids. In vivo the silatranes studied inhibit free-radical and peroxidation reactions of erythrocytary membranes. These data show that silatranes are worth studying as a promising means of prophylaxis of thrombosis. The use of I-CH 2ClSi(OCH 2CH 2) 3N decreases or completely inhibits thrombocyte aggregation induced by ADP, adrenaline, thrombin and collagen. Such a combination of antioxidative and antiaggregate action is observed in neither of the known inhibitors of this process which are able to suppress the aggregation caused by only one specific inductor. I-CH 2ClSi(OCH 2CH 2) 3N increases almost two-fold the blood heparin level forming blood protein complexes which stimulate the anticoagulation system and non-enzymatic fibrinolysis in the organism. All these effects are of great importance in natural prophylaxis of intravascular blood coagulation.