Prevention by antioxidants of the hemolysis of erythrocytes of cattle, pigs and humans treated with t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Urate, 3-ribosylurate, ascorbate, glutathione and plasma protected bovine, porcine and human erythrocytes from hemolysis caused by t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). Urate partially protected porcine erythrocytes from hemolysis by t-BHP when it was added 15 min after the addition of the t-BHP, but it did not protect when added 30 min after the t-BHP. Glutathione and ascorbate protected oxyhemoglobin from oxidation to methemoglobin by t-BHP; 3-ribosylurate gave only slight protection. Urate stimulated the formation of methemoglobin from oxyhemoglobin during treatment with t-BHP.