The effects of 3-methylindole on hemolysis, transport of Na+, and ATPase activities of bovine erythrocytes.

Biochemical effects of 3MI on cellular membranes were investigated. This study was conducted to examine the effects of 3MI on the hemolysis of erythrocytes, the transport of 22Na+ in resealed erythrocyte ghosts, and on the ATPase activities of erythrocyte membranes. The percent of hemolysis as a function of 3MI incubation time was sigmoidal. Seventy-five percent of the hemoglobin was released with the second 2 hr of incubation during which the concentration of 3MI in the cells reached a plateau of 2500 mug/ml of packed RBC. The effect of 3MI at a subhemolytic concentration on passive and active 22Na+ transport were not significant. The total and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities in the membranes were significantly increased after 1 hr of incubation with 3MI at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mug/ml (P less than or equal to 0/ml (P smaller than or equal to 0.02).