Abstract
Summary
Erythrocytes of 20 dogs were studied before and after in vivo exposure to oxygen under high pressure (OHP). No evidence of in vivo hemolysis was noted but erythrocytes from dogs exposed to OHP demonstrated increased osmotic fragility and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. Additional evidence indicated the in vivo formation of lipid peroxides in erythrocytes. No change in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, reduced glutathione content, or met-hemoglobin content occurred, and no Heinz bodies were formed during OHP. Thus, inadequacy of the pentose-phosphate shunt was probably not responsible for cell damage. It is suggested that altered permeability of erythrocytes resulted directly from peroxidation of lipids or indirectly from inhibition of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase or a combination of both effects.
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