Protective effects of various compounds on lysis of antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes by hypotonic shock or complement.

The combination of the two well known in vitro methods of hypotonic shock and immune hemolysis employing sheep erythrocytes (E) were used to evaluate membrane stabilization. Direct drug-induced hemolysis of antibody-coated E (EA), protection against hypotonic shock and complement (C)-mediated hemolysis can be recorded from a consecutive preparative procedure to give information to irreversible drug effects. The most active probable working mechanisms are interference with binding sites of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) and unspecific membrane stabilization. Protection against C-mediated erythrolysis appeared more sensitive than against hypotonic shock.