Abstract
Summary
Several steroids, including estrogens, corticosteroids and analogues, have been shown to protect erythrocytes from heat-induced hemolysis in vitro. When dissolved or suspended in 0.067 M sodium phosphate buffered, isotonic (0.9%) saline, pH 7.4, containing 1% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), greater protective effect was observed than in the presence of 5% ethanol in the same medium without DMSO, even though the compounds are apparently as soluble in the solvent containing 5% ethanol. The protective effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents dissolved in these two solvents were compared with their activity in the absence of 1% DMSO or 5% ethanol; DMSO (1%) enhanced protection afforded by indomethacin, mephenamic acid, and flufenamic acid while acetylsalicylic acid, sodium salicylate, phenylbutazone, and oxypenbutazone were unaffected. In the presence of 5% ethanol, the protective action of acetylsalicylic acid was attenuated, while that of indomethacin, mephenamic acid, or phenylbutazone was unaltered. Although 1% DMSO or 5% ethanol did not stabilize erythrocytes to heat-induced hemolysis per se, 5, 10, and 20% DMSO did so, while 10% ethanol enhanced hemolysis.
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