Cytospectrophotometric research on hemoglobin in human erythrocytes. I. The methemoglobin content in intact erythrocytes and its alteration under the influence of chromosmon, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and glutathione

The blood of healthy men and patients with methemoglobinemia of different genesis was incubated with chromosmon, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and glutathione, the percentage of erythrocytes with thorn-shaped protuberances-echinocytes being subsequently determined in the blood smears. The absorbtion spectra at the range 400-650 nm were investigated both in the smooth erythrocytes and in echinocytes. A correlation was found between the percentage of echinocytes and the methemoglobin content in the blood. The methemoglobin amount in the echinocytes was determined to be higher than in the smooth erythrocytes. It is discovered that effects of chromosmon, glutathione and riboflavin on production of methemoglobin depend on the dose, individual peculiarities of erythrocytes and on the illness that caused methemoglobinemia. The calculation of echinocyte percentage may be used as an express-diagnostics of methemoglobinemia and for purposes of studying the effect of methemoglobin-producing substances and drugs.     

Transient hypobaric hypoxia improves spatial orientation in young rats

To achieve a better understanding of learning and declarative memory under mild transient stress, we investigated the effect of brief hypobaric hypoxia on spatial orientation in rats. Young male Wistar rats aged 30 days were exposed for 60 min to hypobaric hypoxia, simulating an altitude of 7,000 m (23,000 ft) either shortly prior to attempting or after mastering an allothetic navigation task in the Morris water maze with a submerged platform. The post-hypoxic group performed significantly better in the navigation task than the control animals (the mean difference in escape latencies was 11 seconds; P=0.0033, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, group x session). The experimental group also achieved a remarkably higher search efficiency (calculated as a percentage of successful trials per session), especially during the first four days following hypoxic stress (P=0.0018). During the subsequent training, the post-hypoxic group performed better than the control animals, whilst the efficiency levels of both groups progressively converged. Spatial memory retention and recall of well-trained rats were not affected by the transient hypobaric hypoxia. These results indicate that brief hypobaric hypoxia enhances rats' spatial orientation. Our findings are consistent with several studies, which also suggested that mild transient stress improves learning.     

Isolation and identification of sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate from boiled garlic (Allium sativum) that oxidizes canine erythrocytes

Sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate was identified in boiled garlic (Allium sativum). When canine erythrocytes were incubated with sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate, the methemoglobin concentration and Heinz body percentage in erythrocytes were both increased, indicating that the compound induced oxidative damage in canine erythrocytes. It seems that this compound is one of the causative agents of garlic-induced hemolysis in dogs.     

Damage to erythrocytes caused by the interaction of nitrite-ions with hemoglobin

The formation of two hemoglobin forms (methemoglobin and nitrite methemoglobin) in native human erythrocytes in the presence of sodium nitrite in suspension was shown. In normal erythrocytes, the interaction of intracellular oxyhemoglobin with nitrite ions results in the formation of methemoglobin, whereas in metabolically exhausted erythrocytes, this leads predominantly to the formation of nitrite methemoglobin. The nitrite methemoglobin reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form reactive intermediates (e.g. peroxynitrous acid) and the products of hemoglobin destruction. During the storage of erythrocyte suspensions containing methemoglobin and modified nitrite methemoglobin, differences in the forms of erythrocytes and the degree of their hemolysis were revealed. It is assumed that the formation of methemoglobin leads to the destruction of erythrocytes.     

血循环障碍在高原冻伤中的形态计量观测

本文对高原冻伤中血液循环障碍作形态计量,旨在探讨血循环障碍在冻伤过程中的变化及高原冻伤发病机理中所起的作用。实验选用Ｗｉｓｔａｒ雄性大鼠４０只,随机分为平原冻伤组、急性低氧冻伤组和低氧习服冻伤组。习服组动物于低压舱内模拟海拔６０００ｍ缺氧每日４ｈ,连续两周。其余动物常规饲养。习服期满次日习服组与低氧组一同进入舱内模拟海拔６０００ｍ低氧４ｈ,再行冷冻。冻后继续低氧４ｈ。冻后４８ｈ取材。对各组动物冻后４８ｈ冻肢皮下血管的病变作图象分析。结果发现,平原组血管淤滞、血栓绝对数及其百分比均为最低,习服组最高,低氧组居中。但低氧组与平原组的血栓／淤滞百分比无明显差别。骨骼肌坏死的面积百分比习服组显著高于低氧组与平原组,而后两组间无差别。血栓／淤滞百分比与骨骼肌坏死面积百分比之间的有高度相关关系。冻融是直接引起血管内皮损伤的原发因素,局部血液循环障碍是造成严重的继发损伤的主要原因。     

Isolation and Identification of Sodium 2-Propenyl Thiosulfate from Boiled Garlic (Allium sativum) That Oxidizes Canine Erythrocytes

Sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate was identified in boiled garlic (Allium sativum). When canine erythrocytes were incubated with sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate, the methemoglobin concentration and Heinz body percentage in erythrocytes were both increased, indicating that the compound induced oxidative damage in canine erythrocytes. It seems that this compound is one of the causative agents of garlic-induced hemolysis in dogs.     

A study of the aggregation of human red blood cells induced by picric acid

The effect of picric acid on the aggregation of human erythrocytes was studied. It was shown that the addition of picric acid to a suspension of washed erythrocytes leads to a decrease in pH of medium to 1.5-2 and the formation of echinocytes. Stirring the suspension of echinocytes at low pH values results in a strong aggregation of cells. Increasing the pH value to 7.4 leads to a desaggregation of echinocytes. It was found that picric acid does not induce the aggregation of cells fixed by glutaraldehyde. A substantial decrease in the aggegation of spheric erythrocytes obtained after heating the cells at 50 degrees C was observed.     

Lysophosphatidic acid and human erythrocyte aggregation

The effect of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on the shape and aggregation of human erythrocytes in autologous plasma was studied. The morphology of erythrocytes and their aggregates were studied by light microscopy. It is shown that the addition of plasma with a high LPA content to erythrocytes leads to a change of their shape: discocytes are transformed into echinocytes. There is practically no aggregation of erythrocytes in the form of rouleaux. At the same time, there is observed a strong aggregation of echinocytes. This is accompanied by the formation of microvesicles. The addition of normal blood plasma to echinocytes restores their shape and aggregation of red blood cells in the form of rouleaux. A possible mechanism of action of lysophosphatidic acid on erythrocytes is discussed.     

Study of the relationship between shape and aggregation change in human erythrocytes

The relationship between shape and spontaneous and fibrinogen-induced aggregation change in human erythrocytes was studied. Spontaneous and fibrinogen-induced erythrocyte aggregation was investigated using a rheoscope designed according to the method of H. Schmid-Schonbein et al. (1973). The erythrocyte shape was studied by means of light microscopy. It was shown that plasma enriched with lysophosphatidic acid and ATP depletion of erythrocytes led to the change of erythrocyte shape: discocytes transformed into echinocytes. It was found that spontaneous aggregation of such cells was considerably decreased. Aggregation of erythrocytes, treated with lysophosphatidic acid, was diminished more markedly. Fibrinogen-induced aggregation of echinocytes, obtained after treatment with lysophosphatidic acid and produced by ATP depletion, was also greatly reduced.     

The special behavior of equine erythrocytes connected with the methemoglobin regulation

Erythrocytes from thoroughbred horses were submitted to total (80-90%) and partial (25-40%) oxidation of hemoglobin by sodium nitrite. The ability of these cells to reduce methemoglobin to hemoglobin in the presence of either glucose, glucose plus methylene blue or lactate was investigated. The results were compared with those ones obtained for human erythrocytes. Under total oxidation: the horse erythrocytes need longer incubation time with glucose or glucose plus methylene blue than human erythrocytes for reducing the methemoglobin; methylene blue did not enhance methemoglobin reduction in the equine erythrocytes, as occurred in human erythrocytes; for horses, lactate was a more efficient substrate in promoting methemoglobin reduction. The reduction of methemoglobin by equine erythrocytes under partial oxidation was very quick in any of the incubation media. The results can explain the incongruity between the previously reported inability of equine erythrocytes to reduce methemoglobin and the lack of methemoglobinemias in equine veterinary practice.     

Changes in rodent-erythrocyte methemoglobin reductase system produced by two malaria parasites, viz. Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis and Plasmodium berghei

The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium between hemoglobin and methemoglobin in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to oxidative stress (pathological/physiological) may cause impairment to this equilibrium. We studied the status of erythrocytic methemoglobin and the related reductase system during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection in mice and P. berghei infection in mastomys. Malaria infection was induced by intraperitoneal inoculation with 10⁶ infected erythrocytes. The present investigation revealed a significant decrease in the activity of methemoglobin reductase, with a concomitant rise in methemoglobin content during P. yoelii nigeriensis infection in mice erythrocytes. This was accompanied with a significant increase in reduced glutathione and ascorbate levels. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase increased with a progressive rise in parasitemia. However, no methemoglobin or associated reductase activity was detected in normal and P. berghei-infected mastomys. P. berghei infection in mastomys resulted in an increase in the level of reduced glutathione and ascorbate in erythrocytes, and also in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase. These results suggest that antioxidants/antioxidant enzymes may prevent or reduce the formation of methemoglobin in the host and thereby protect the host from methemoglobinemia.     

Hypobaric hypoxia regulates iron metabolism in rats

Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia can produce a protective effect on both the nervous system and non-nervous system tissues. Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia preconditioning has been shown to protect rats from cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury by decreasing cardiac iron levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, thereby decreasing oxidative stress to achieve protection. However, the specific mechanism underlying the protective effect of hypobaric hypoxia is unclear. To shed light on this phenomenon, we subjected Sprague-Dawley rats to hypobaric hypoxic preconditioning (8 hours/day). The treatment was continued for 4 weeks. We then measured the iron content in the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney. The iron levels in all of the assessed tissues decreased significantly after hypobaric hypoxia treatment, corroborating previous results that hypobaric hypoxia may produce its protective effect by decreasing ROS production by limiting the levels of catalytic iron in the tissue. We next assessed the expression levels of several proteins involved in iron metabolism (transferrin receptor, L-ferritin, and ferroportin1 [FPN1]). The increased transferrin receptor and decreased L-ferritin levels after hypobaric hypoxia were indicative of a low-iron phenotype, while FPN1 levels remained unchanged. We also examined hepcidin, transmembrane serine proteases 6 (TMPRSS6), erythroferrone (ERFE), and erythropoietin (EPO) levels, all of which play a role in the regulation of systemic iron metabolism. The expression of hepcidin decreased significantly after hypobaric hypoxia treatment, whereas the expression of TMPRSS6 and ERFE and EPO increased sharply. Finally, we measured serum iron and total iron binding capacity in the serum, as well as red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, red blood cell distribution width SD, and red blood cell distribution width CV. As expected, all of these values increased after the hypobaric hypoxia treatment. Taken together, our results show that hypobaric hypoxia can stimulate erythropoiesis, which systemically draws iron away from nonhematopoietic tissue through decreased hepcidin levels.     

The basis for EDTA-stimulation of methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates of human erythrocytes.

We have studied the stimulation by EDTA of methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates of human erythrocytes. The EDTA effect has been shown not to be the result of an allosteric interaction of EDTA with hemoglobin or the result of a photochemical reduction. The effect does not appear to be due to a direct interaction of free EDTA with either of the catalytic components of the erythrocyte methemoglobin reduction system. The EDTA stimulation seen in hemolysates is due to the formation of an iron-EDTA complex, which transfers electrons from the reductase to methemoglobin.     

The apparent viscosity of aggregating and non-aggregating erythrocyte suspensions in the isolated perfused liver

Vasodilated guinea pig livers were perfused with normal erythrocytes and echinocytes suspended in isoviscous high- and low-molecular-weight dextran solutions. The relative flow resistance of these suspensions and the oxygen uptake of the livers were then determined. The relative flow resistance of the echinocytes that were suspended in high-molecular-weight dextran, however, was significantly higher than that of any other red cell suspension. The oxygen uptake was independent of the perfusion media. It is proposed that high-molecular-weight dextran induces echinocytes to attach to one another, and that this clumping together, and shape-transformation of red cells, hinders their flow in the vasodilated liver.     

Effects of hemolysate concentration, ionic strength and cytochrome b5 concentration on the rate of methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates of human erythrocytes.

An assay for determining the rate of methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates of human erythrocytes has been developed. The rates obtained by this assay, when corrected for dilution, are comparable to those obtained with intact cells. Increased ionic strength inhibits the reaction, whereas EDTA increases the rate of reduction. The rate with NADPH as electron donor is 65-70% of the rate with NADH. Added cytochrome b5 stimulates the reaction. The assay has been used to examine erythrocytes from two methemoglobinemic sisters and their asymptomatic mother. Hemolysates of the two patients have both decreased dichlorophenolindophenol reductase activity and decreased ability to reduce methemoglobin. Hemolysates from the heterozygous mother have intermediate dichlorophenolindophenol reductase activity and intermediate methemoglobin reduction ability. The data presented in this paper indicate that the concentrations of cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 reductase determine the rate of methemoglobin reduction in hemolysates.     

Scanning electron microscopy of pulmonary vascular endothelium in rats with hypoxia-induced hypertension

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the endothelial surface of the pulmonary trunk, artery, and vein in normobaric control rats as well as in rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 7 and 21 days. The individual endothelial cells of the normobaric pulmonary trunk and hilar artery were flat and slightly elongated with elevated nuclear regions, and those of the intermediate-sized artery were more elongated and had more microvilli than the large arteries studied. Their endothelial cell boundaries were outlined by beaded cytoplasmic projections. The surfaces of the normobaric hilar and intermediate-sized veins were smooth and demonstrated numerous longitudinal streaks. These venous endothelial cells were elongated and their cell boundaries were outlined by low discontinuous marginal folds. Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused the following changes on the arterial surface: elevation of the endothelial cells; formation of microvilli-rich cell clusters; formation of hollow defects; and the attachment of leukocytes. Hypobaric hypoxia also caused the disappearance of the longitudinal streaks and the occurrence of microvilli-rich cells in the hilar veins. The endothelial surface modifications in the hypobaric rats could be related to thickening of the endothelium, intimal edema, increased intimal connective tissue, luminal invasion of leukocytes, and increased endothelial cell proliferation, known to occur in systemic arteries of hypertensive animals.     

Distribution of erythrocyte in a model vessel exposed to inhomogeneous magnetic fields

In order to investigate magnetic field effects on blood flow, changes in the flow of erythrocytes in a model branched vessel were observed in an inhomogeneous magnetic field. The magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the straight vessel before branching. When the suspension containing paramagnetic erythrocytes with high spin methemoglobin or deoxygenated hemoglobin flowed in the model vessel, the erythrocytes were attracted towards the stronger magnetic field (i.e. to the side branch) and an excess flow of erythrocytes to the side branch was detected. This excess flow of erythrocytes to the side branch was the highest at a hematocrit of about 5% for the suspension containing erythrocytes with high spin methemoglobin. In the case of mixed suspensions containing erythrocytes with high spin methemoglobin and oxygenated erythrocytes, the excess flow of erythrocytes to the side branch reached its maximum at the "partial hematocrit" for the paramagnetic erythrocyte of around 5% and remained nearly constant with a further increase of the "partial hematocrit." The effect of magnetic field decreased as the flow velocity increased. These results are explained with the paramagnetism of erythrocytes and with the assumption of a hydrodynamic interaction among erythrocytes which are pulled in the direction of the magnetic field. It is suggested that a strong inhomogeneous magnetic field is not totally negligible to the blood circulation.     

Effect of adenosine on the shape,aggregates morphology and aggregability of ATP-depleted erythrocytes

The effect of adenosine on the shape, aggregate morphology and aggregability of ATP-depleted erythrocytes was studied. It is shown that the ATP-depletion of erythrocyte leads to the change in their shape: diskocytes transform to echinocytes. It is found that the aggregability of such cells in autologous plasma significantly decreased. Incubation of echinocytes with adenosine largely restored discoid shape and erythrocyte aggregability.     

The effect of dopamine on in vitro methemoglobin formation in erythrocytes of patients with Parkinson’s disease under oxidative stress

Using electron paramagnetic resonance, the dose-dependence effect of dopamine on methemoglobin formation in erythrocytes of patients with Parkinson’s disease under the activation of oxidative stress induced by acrolein and the possibilities for the correction of this pathological process using carnosine in vitro experiments have been examined. It was shown that incubation of erythrocytes with 1.5 mM dopamine did not change the methemoglobin content, while incubation with 15 mM dopamine caused a two fold increase in the methemoglobin content compared to its initial level; 10 μM acrolein increased methemoglobin formation threefold. Administration of 15 mM dopamine and, after 1 h, 10 μM acrolein to the incubation system increased methemoglobin formation tenfold compared to its initial level. Preincubation of erythrocytes with 5 mM carnosine followed by acrolein addition prevented the increase in the methemoglobin content, while carnosine had no effect on methemoglobin formation induced by dopamine.     

Modulation of the contractile responses of guinea pig isolated tracheal rings after chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia with and without cold exposure.

Previous studies have documented that repetitive exposure to intermittent hypoxia, such as that encountered in preparation to high-altitude ascent, influences breathing. However, the impact of intermittent hypoxia on airway smooth muscle has not been explored. Ascents to high altitude, in addition to hypoxia, expose individuals to cold air. The objective of the present study is to examine the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIH) and CIH combined with cold exposure (CIHC) on tracheal smooth muscle responses to various contractile and relaxant agonists. Experiments were performed on tracheal rings harvested from adult guinea pigs exposed either to CIH or CIHC [14 days (6 h/day) at barometric pressure of 350 mmHg with and without cold exposure of 5 degrees C] or to room air (normoxia). CIH and CIHC attenuated maximum contractile responses to ACh compared with normoxia. The maximum contractile response to histamine decreased with CIH, whereas CIHC restored the response back to normoxia. Both CIH and CIHC attenuated maximum contractile responses to 5-HT. Altered contractile responses after CIH and CIHC were independent of epithelium. Isoproterenol-induced relaxation was not altered by CIH, whereas it was enhanced after CIHC, and these responses were independent of the epithelium. The data demonstrate that intermittent exposure to hypoxia profoundly influences contractile response of tracheal smooth muscle, and cold exposure can further modulate the response, implying the importance of cold at high altitude.