Biological and environmental factors affecting ultrasound-induced hemolysis in vitro: 3. Antioxidant (Trolox) inclusion.
This project tested the hypothesis that human erythrocytes pretreated with Trolox (a water-soluble analog of vitamin E) would be more susceptible to ultrasound (US)-induced hemolysis by a cavitational mechanism because of an increased fragility of the erythrocyte membrane over that without Trolox supplementation. Samples of whole human blood from apparently healthy donors (hematocrit approximately 40%) in vitro were supplemented or not supplemented with Trolox at various concentrations, ranging from 1.8 to 0.0018 mg/mL plasma. Mechanical fragility tests indicated the Trolox-treated blood in vitro exhibited greater hemolysis than untreated blood in vitro (p < 0.001). US exposures at comparable acoustic amplitude, pulse length and duty factor in the presence of the US contrast agent Albunex yielded differing results; at 1 MHz, the Trolox-supplemented blood had significantly greater hemolysis in vitro than non-Trolox-supplemented blood; at 3 MHz, there was a substantial reduction in hemolysis relative to that obtained at 1 MHz, and no statistically significant difference between the Trolox-supplemented and -unsupplemented blood. There was also essentially no support for an alternative hypothesis that the Trolox was functioning primarily as a pro-oxidant. These collective experimental results support the hypothesis and suggest duality in the functionality of membranous antioxidant inclusions or associations; they may foster protection against oxidative damage, yet render the cell less capable of withstanding mechanical stress.
Miller
Morton W
MW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Box 668, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642-0001, USA. Morton_Miller@urmc.rochester.edu
Miller
W Marcus
WM
Battaglia
Linda F
LF
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid