Effect of ethanol on the hemolytic stability of erythrocytes

The stability of rabbit erythrocytes to hemolysis induced by different comp ounds in the presence or absence of ethanol or acetaldehyde has been analyz ed. Ethanol slightly reduced erythrocyte stability against acidic hemolysis only after long-term preincubation, but the effect of ethanol on stability to oxidative hemolysis manifested itself immediately after its addition to the cells. Ethanol decreased both stability of cells to oxidative damage a nd dispersion of the hemolytic curve. Comparison of the effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde showed that the destabilizing effect of ethanol might be c aused by either its direct action or the effect of its metabolites formed d uring preincubation of ethanol with erythrocytes. Possible mechanisms of et hanol and acetaldehyde effects on erythrocyte stability are discussed.