Effect of hexachlorophene on monovalent cation transport in human erythrocytes a mechanism for hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis

Hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis, as studied by phase contrast microscopy, appeared to be a result of osmotic swelling. Both swelling and subsequent hemolysis were markedly delayed by addition of the non-penetrating solute sucrose to the incubation mixture. Binding studies indicated that hexachlorophene is associated primarily with the erythrocyte membrane, the remainder being found in the cytoplasm. Hexachlorophane induced a dose-dependent, first-order efflux of Na⁺ and K⁺ from red cells. The rates of hemolysis and K⁺ efflux induced by hexachlorophene were much greater than would be expected if this compound were acting simply as a metabolic inhibitor and/or an inhibitor of (Na⁺-K⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase. It is suggested that hexachlorophene induces the efflux of Na⁺ and K⁺ from red cells by directly altering the permeability of the cellular membrane. Further, hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis is probably a secondary event resulting from osmotic swelling subsequent to increased membrane permeability.