Effect of Methanethiol Administration on the Erythrocyte Damage in Rats

흰쥐에 Methanethiol 투여가 적혈구막 손상에 미치는 영향

To evaluate an effect of methanethiol on a cause of erythrocyte membrane damage in rats, methanethiol was given at 11.25 rag/100 g body weight, and after 4 hr, the animals were sacrifled, the activities of Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase, protein contents in partial purified erythrocyte membrane and erythrocyte indices were determined Concomitantly, in vitro, effect of methanethiol on the erythrocyte fragility, Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase activity and its kinetics in various concentration of substrate from the preincubated erythrocyte membrane with methanethiol were demonstrated. The spleen weight per body weight (%) and MCV of erythrocyte in methanethiol-treated rats were more increased than those in the control group. The Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase activities in erythrocyte membrane were more decreased in methanethiol-treated rats than those in the control group. The apply of 0.05 ng rat whole blood to the 0.24 mg/ng of methanethiol solution in isotonic condition showed the complete hemolysis. The Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase activity in preincubated erythrocyte membrane with methanethiol at 37$\circ$C showed the dual effect and the K$_m$ value of Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase was higher in the preincubated erythrocyte membrane with methanethiol than that in the preincubated erythrocyte membrane omitted the methanethiol. These results suggest that the methanethiol may induce the damage of rat's erythrocyte membrane due to a change in substrate binding affinity of Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase.