Effect of glutathione depletion on haemoglobin and membrane integrity of red blood cells of rats

Abstract

The effects of streptozocin (streptozotocin) and water-soluble menadione (menadione bisulphite, sodium salt) on the haemoglobin content and membrane integrity of red blood cells were investigated. Both menadione bisulphite and streptozocin significantly depleted glutathione but menadione bisulphite was much more effective in reducing glutathione than was streptozocin. Menadione bisulphite, at concentrations above 0.1 mM, caused substantial conversion of oxygenated haemoglobin into methaemoglobin while streptozocin did not alter the haemoglobin content of the red blood cells at concentrations of up to 100 mM. Both agents demonstrated only a modest ability to haemolyse the red blood cells, even at concentrations up to 300 mM. These results suggest that depletion of glutathione by menadione causes the conversion of oxyhaemoglobin to methaemoglobin. In contrast, streptozocin-induced glutathione depletion does not seem to be well correlated with alterations in haemoglobin content.