Lipid peroxidation is not the cause of lysis of human erythrocytes exposed to inorganic or methylmercury.

Exposure of human erythrocytes in a 50% hematocrit to 0.5-1 mM Hg2+ initiated immediate hemolysis which proceeded at a constant rate without any formation of lipid hydroperoxides. Treatment of 0.03% hematocrits with 0.4 ppm of Hg2+ or 40 ppm of methylmercury caused rapid hemolysis after a short lag period. The kinetics of the process were unaltered by saturation of the cell suspensions with oxygen, by its replacement with He or CO, or by variation in the level of vitamin E in the membranes. The results show that peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids is not the cause of hemolysis induced by either Hg2+ or methylmercury.