Inhibition of sodium oleate hemolysis and toxicity by cholesterin

Abstract

The hemolytic quality of soap solutions and particularly of sodium oleate has been studied by a number of investigators (Sachs, Meyer, Moore). Meyerstein later showed that the oleate hemolysis could be inhibited by lipoids, cholesterin, serum and organ extracts. Sodium stearate and palmitate are less active than the oleate. Moore has shown that the laking qualities of the soaps are in proportion to the unsaturated bonds of the fatty acids and that by iodine saturation can be inhibited.

The toxicity of soaps was studied by Munk who found that the quantity equal to 0.11 to 0.13 gram oleic acid per kilo body weight killed rabbits. In his experiments he introduced these quantities very slowly. The heart action was depressed, but continued longer than the respiratory function.

We have given rabbits sodium oleate intravenously. A 5 per cent. solution of anhydrous sodium oleate (Merck) in normal saline was used. The soap solution was injected into the ear veins in a single and rapidly given dose. Doses of 0.1 sodium oleate per kilo appeared very irritating, the muscles of the extremities were thrown into spastic contractions and the animal had convulsive seizures. The ill effects lasted for a minute and a half when the animal would show great depression with rapid breathing. The muscles then became quite limp; within an hour the animal was fully recovered. Doses of 0.13 gram per kilo weight were fatal. These animals would sometimes enter a convulsive seizure before the injection was completely made. The blood of these animals after death was not perceptibly laked and it would appear that in the animal body the quality of laking and that of toxicity were separate. When, however, the solution of sodium oleate was mixed with an equal quantity of cholesterin the toxic qualities were inhibited.