Influence of glygerol on ATP and 2,3-DPG levels of human erythrocytes.

Glycerolization of freshly collected human erythrocytes leads to a reduction in ATP levels which return to their original values following deglycerolization. The reduction in ATP levels is largely prevented by pyruvate but not by inosine and glucose, singly or in combination. This implies that the ATP lesion associated with glycerolization reflects mainly a decrease in the NAD/NADH ratio and accordingly a reduced glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. 2,3-DPG levels were not influenced by glycerolization and deglycerolization. Erythrocytes depleted of ATP in the presence of glycerol can have their ATP levels repleted by either pyruvate or inosine, but require the presence of both compounds for maintenance during a post-rejuvenation incubation period. This indicates that the prolonged presence of glycerol influences both the NAD/NADH ratio and the carbon-containing intermediates of glycolysis. Glycerol did not influence ATP repletion of erythrocytes stored at 4 degrees C for 20 days by inosine in combination with pyruvate, but substantially decreased the repletion of their 2,3-DPG levels.