Action of some hydroxyl radical scavengers on radiation-induced haemolysis
Miller, G.G.; Raleigh, J.A.
International Journal of Radiation Biology and Related Studies in Physics Chemistry and Medicine 43(4): 411-419
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-7616 PMID: 6601637 Document Number: 197848
Human and bovine erythrocytes (RBC) from peripheral blood were gamma-irradiated in vitro to a dose of 500 Gy in the presence of 3 efficient hydroxyl radical (OH) scavengers: ethanol, ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Bovine RBC were strongly protected from radiation induced hemolysis by each of the 3 scavengers over a concentration range from 10-4 to 10-2 M, presumably as a result of OH scavenging. Human cells were protected as efficiently as bovine RBC by ethanol and ethylene glycol over the same concentration range, however DMSO failed to protect human cells from hemolysis over a 6-decade concentration range up to 1 M. Exogenously supplied vitamin E (.alpha.-tocopherol) protected human RBC from hemolytic effects of 500 Gy radiation in a dose-dependent fashion; however, bovine cells were not protected over the same concentration range. Apparently, secondary radicals of DMSO generated during radiation may be of sufficient reactivity to initiate lipid peroxidation and are suggestive of species differences in the protection of biological membranes from oxidative stress.