Red cell metabolism: a comparative study of some mammalian species.

The activities of six enzymes--glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD)--and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH regeneration rates were measured in the red blood cells of eight mammalian species--rabbit, guinea-pig, rat, golden hamster, sheep, goat, cattle and human. The results show that whereas the activities of G-6-PD, 6-PGD and GR are widely different among the experimental animals, there is no such variation in the activity of SOD. There does not appear to be a relationship between GSH regeneration rate and the activities of G-6-PD, 6-PGD and GR--the enzymes associated with GSH metabolism.