Electrostatic inhibition of hemolysis induced by organotin compounds.

The effect of cations on the kinetics of hemolysis caused by organotin compounds was studied. The ions used in the investigation diminish or totally inhibit hemolysis of red cells induced by organotin compounds. The degree of inhibition depends both on the kind of ion and the compounds that induce hemolysis. The ions Zn2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ present in the medium at 50 microM concentration totally protect the erythrocytes against hemolysis induced by the compound (C3H7)3SnCl. The study has also shown the monovalent ions K+ and trimethyldodecylammonium bromide are less potent inhibitors of hemolysis than divalent ions, which is not the case for two non-ionic organotin compounds only. The studies performed indicate that hemolysis induced by organotin compounds is inhibited due to electrostatic interaction between the cations selected and erythrocyte membrane.