Damage of erythrocytes by activated oxygen generated in hypoxic rat liver.

The implication of activated oxygen in the interaction between hypoxic rat liver and circulating erythrocytes was investigated. Reduced species of oxygen generated in hypoxic liver owing to accelerated purine nucleotide degradation via xanthine oxidase initiate alterations of plasma membrane and glutathione system of erythrocytes. Osmotic fragility, hemolysis rate and erythrocytic GSSG:GSH ratio may be considered as appropriate indicators of oxidative load in liver and other tissues. Addition of erythrocytes to the perfusion medium attenuates the GSSG efflux of hypoxic liver from 2.7 +/- 0.5 nmol x g w.w.-1 x min-1 to 1.4 +/- 0.2 nmol x g w.w.-1 x min-1 Thus, circulating erythrocytes protect the liver against oxidative attack.