Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione deficiency in sheep.

Erythrocytes of 145 sheep representing six breeds were assayed for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. All sheep had erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase values similar to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocytes of man. Mean erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels ranged from 0.65 to 1.54 micromoles of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate per gram of hemoglobin per minute. Many of these sheep also had low levels and/or unstable reduced glutathione. Sheep with low levels of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and reduced glutathione were given large doses of oxidizing drugs or fed fresh fava beans to determine if they would develop intravascular hemolysis. No significant hemolysis was detected as a result of drug administration or fava bean ingestion.