Protection of Erythrocytes Against Organometals-Induced Hemolysis

The hemolytic toxicity of tributyllead (TBL) and triphenyllead (TPhL) chlorides and its prevention by dithiotreitol (DTT), diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid pentasodium (PMP) and sodium disulfide (Na2S) was studied. It was found that both TBL and TPhL efficiently hemolyzed pig erythrocytes when used in micromolar concentrations; tributyllead chloride being about twice more efficient than triphenyllead chloride. The hemolytic efficiency of these compounds was blocked by PMP, DTT and Na2S in a concentration-dependent manner. However, significant differences in anti-hemolytic efficiency of these compounds were found. Namely, DTT and Na2S were very efficiently protecting erythrocytes against the action of organoleads, while the PMP protection was weak. Also, differences between DTT and Na2S protective efficiency were found. They more efficiently prevented erythrocyte hemolysis by TPhL than by TBL. Moreover, erythrocytes were better protected against the action of TBL by Na2S than by DTT. Such differentiation may be connected with possible differences in localization of the organolead compounds and protective agents in the erythrocyte membrane. To check these possibilities a series of experiments was performed using the fluorescence technique and various fluorimetric probes. These measurements enabled to determine fluidity changes induced in erythrocyte membranes by the organoleads and the protective compounds and to formulate some remarks concerning the differences in the mechanism of interaction of the organoleads with these membranes.