Species differences of galactose metabolism in erythrocytes.
Galactose metabolism was studied in suspensions of erythrocytes from man, rat, ox and pig at approximate steady-state galactose concentrations from 0.1-6.5 mmol/l. There was no detectable galactose elimination in pig erythrocytes. In the three other species the elimination followed saturation kinetics with the maximal elimination rate, Vmax, being 8.0 mumol . min-1 . l-1 human erythrocytes; 12 mumol X min-1 . l-1 rat erythrocytes; 2.4 mumol . min-1 . l-1 bovine erythrocytes. The half saturation concentration, Km, was about the same in all three species, around 0.2 mmol/l. If similar in vivo, erythrocyte metabolism of galactose is not of major quantitative importance compared to the hepatic metabolism in the species examined.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine