VANADIUM INDUCED HEMOLYSIS OF VITAMIN-E-DEFICIENT ERYTHROCYTES IN HEPES BUFFER

Several vanadium compounds were tested for their ability to induce in vitro hemolysis of vitamin E-deficient hamster erythrocytes. Free vana dyl caused hemolysis in Hepes buffer but not in Tris or phosphate buff er, while hemolysis was inhibited by catalase, chelators such as defer oxamine mesylate and EDTA, and hydroxyl radical scavengers such as eth anol and D-mannitol. Although metavanadate itself could not induce hem olysis, metavanadate with NAD(P)H caused hemolysis in Hepes buffer onl y, and superoxide dismutase prevented it. Hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and Hepes radical were involved in vanadyl-induced hemolysis; superoxide anion was further involved in metavanadate plus NAD(P)H-ind uced hemolysis. Vitamin E prevented hemolysis under both conditions.