Participation of Free Oxygen Radicals in Damage of Porcine Erythrocytes

• Published in: Radiation research 1981-10, Vol.88 (1), p.11-19
• Main Authors: Jóźwiak, Z., Helszer, Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphatases; Adenosine Triphosphatases - metabolism; Animals; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; Cell membranes; Energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - radiation effects; Erythrocyte membrane; Erythrocyte Membrane - enzymology; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - radiation effects; Free Radicals; Gamma Rays; Hemolysis; In Vitro Techniques; Oxygen; Radiation damage; Radiation dosage; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase - metabolism; Space life sciences; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Swine; Water - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0033-7587; 1938-5404
• DOI: 10.2307/3575746

Gamma radiation causes disturbances in energy metabolism, decreases in (${\rm Na}^{+}-{\rm K}^{+}$)-ATPase, Mg2+-APTase activity, and increase in the degree of hemolysis in porcine erythrocytes. Our results indicated a contribution of exogenous free radicals in radiation damage to porcine erythrocytes. In the presence of biological and chemical radioprotectors a protective effect with respect to ATPase activity and energy metabolism was observed in the presence of superoxide dismutase, cysteine, and glutathione, with respect to hemolysis in the presence of catalase, histidine, glucose, and sulfhydryl compounds. It appears that radiation damage to porcine erythrocytes is due to the action of various radicals formed upon irradiation which react at different rates with various cell constituents.