The role of the red blood cell in the transport of carbon disulfide.

When rats were exposed to 2 mg l-1 (approximately 640 ppm) of carbon disulfide (CS2) for 4 h, the concentration of free CS2 in the red blood cells (RBCs) approached a plateau within 2 h. Free CS2 in plasma reached a steady state concentration within 15 min of exposure. More than 90% of the free CS2 in blood was found in the RBCs regardless of the length of exposure. In vitro studies showed that about 90% of the free CS2 partitioned into the RBCs regardless of whether the CS2 was added first to the plasma or directly to the RBCs. Hence, it appears that the RBC is the major carrier of CS2 in blood. It was found that 98% of the free CS2 in red blood cell lysates was associated with hemoglobin. Free CS2 in RBCs was readily partitioned into olive oil (RBCs/oil = 1/6), less readily into the plasma (RBCs/plasma = 12/1), and only to a small extent into phosphate buffer (RBCs/buffer = 39/1). The extraction of free CS2-loaded RBCs into albumin solution increased with increasing albumin concentrations. CS2 can be extracted with buffer, protein solution, and oil, indicating that CS2 in RBCs can be transferred to the medium in which the RBCs contact. It is proposed that RBCs may also play an important role in the transport of CS2 from lung to tissues and vice versa. The possible role of RBCs in the transport of other organic solvents in the blood is also discussed.