Effects of in Vivo Hyperoxia on Erythrocytes

LTHOUGH RED CELL DAMAGE and lysis during in vitro and in vivo exposure to high oxygen tensions have been well documented,13 the mechanisms responsible for these effects have not been completely elucidated. Previous studies in this laboratory showed that peroxidation of erythrocyte lipid could occur in vivo during exposure to oxygen under high pressure (OHP) and was directly or indirectly involved with red cell damage and hemolysis in animals and humans under these conditions.4’5 Changes in erythrocyte autohemolysis and glycolytic intermediates were subsequently noted in several humans exposed to oxygen under high pressure (OHP ) . The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of controlled in vivo OHP exposure on phosphorylated glycolytic intermediates of mouse erythrocytes.