Toxicity of aromatic disulphides. III. In vivo haemolytic activity of aromatic disulphides.

Diphenyl disulphide, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl disulphide, 2,2'-diaminodiphenyl disulphide, 4,4'-dimethyldiphenyl disulphide and 4,4'-dinitrodiphenyl disulphide, when administered orally to rats, induced haematological and pathological changes indicative of erythrocyte destruction in vivo. No evidence of haemolysis was detected, however, in animals receiving diphenyl disulphide-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid or dibenzyl disulphide. The order of activity of the various aromatic disulphides in provoking in vivo haemolysis was similar to that previously recorded for 'active oxygen' generation and erythrocyte damage in vitro. The results of this investigation suggest that in vivo haemolysis may be anticipated from any disulphide or thiol which undergoes appreciable autoxidation at neutral pH. While aromatic or alpha beta-unsaturated thiols and disulphides would be expected to be the most active haemolytic agents, other thiols or disulphides may precipitate the destruction of erythrocytes whose defences against oxidative attack are deficient.