title: Hemolytic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone in vitro.
abstract: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a major steroid secreted by the adrenal gland which decreases with age after adolescence, is available as a over-the-counter product. This study demonstrates that DHEA induced lysis of human red blood cells (RBCs) in a concentration-dependent manner, with ca. 70% hemolysis at 2 mM DHEA at 37 degrees C for 1 hr. Hemolysis induced by 2 mM DHEA was rapid and involved neither hemoglobin oxidation nor lipid peroxidation. The hemolysis was also not inhibited by addition of EDTA, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glucose or a radical scavenger including mannitol, dimethylsulfoxide and alpha-tocopherol, indicating a non-oxidative mechanism. RBCs stored overnight before incubation with DHEA were hemolyzed to a lesser extent than the freshly prepared RBCs. Light microscopy of the fresh RBCs following 1-h incubation with 2 mM DHEA revealed thickened and cup-shaped deformity of the membranes, suggesting a change in the membrane structure possibly due to the intercalation of the steroid into the membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D005978:Glutathione