LEAD EFFECT ON THE OXIDATION RESISTANCE OF ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE IN RAT TRITON-INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIA

The anemia observed in severe chronic lead poisoning is in part attrib utable to alterations in the erythrocyte physicochemical properties. S ince they are partly related to the membrane lipid composition, the ai m of the present study was to determine the effects of a triton-induce d hyperlipidemia on the resistance to oxidation of erythrocyte membran es in lead-treated Wistar rats. Our results showed that triton adminis tration to lead-treated rats induced an increase in erythrocyte cholin e phospholipid levels together with a significant decrease in the eryt hrocyte membrane lipid resistance to oxidation. These results led us t o suggest that anemia in lead poisoning is linked to interactions betw een lead present in the membrane and plasma phospholipids. Their incre ase in rat hyperlipidemia induced by triton resulted in a decrease in the membrane resistance to oxidation and finally in an erythrocyte fra gility leading to their destruction.