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The role of the red blood cell in the transport of carbon disulfide
Author(s) -
Lam ChiuWing,
Distefano Victor,
Morken Donald A.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.2550060203
Subject(s) - chemistry , albumin , carbon disulfide , hemoglobin , red blood cell , phosphate buffered saline , blood proteins , red cell , chromatography , blood plasma , biochemistry , biophysics , organic chemistry , medicine , biology
When rats were exposed to 2 mg l −1 (˜640 ppm) of carbon dislfide (CS 2 ) for 4 h, the concentration of free CS 2 in the red blood cells (RBCs) approached a plateau within 2 h. Free CS 2 in plasma reached a steady state concentration within 15 min of exposure. More than 90% of the free CS 2 in blood was found in the RBCs regardless of the length of exposure. In vitro studies showed that about 90% of the free CS 2 partitioned into the RBCs regardless of whether the CS 2 was added first to the plasma or directly to the RBCs. Hence, it appears that the RBC is the major carrier of CS 2 in blood. It was found that 98% of the free CS 2 in red blood cell lysates was associated with hemoglobin. Free CS 2 in RBCs was readily partitioned into olive oil (RBCs/oil=1/6), less readily into the plasma (RBCs/plsma=12/1), and only to a small extent into phosphate buffer (RBCs/buffer=39/1). The extraction of free CS 2 ‐loaded RBCs into albumin solution increased with increasing albumin concentrations. CS 2 can be extracted with buffer, protein solution, and oil, indicating that CS 2 in RBCs can be transferred to the medium in which the RBCs contact. It is proposed that RBCs may also play an important role in the transport of CS 2 from lung to tissues and vice versa. The possible role of RBCs in the transport of other organic solvents in the blood is also discussed.