Relationship between the hemolytic action of heavy metals and lipid peroxidation.

It is well known that some of the heavy metals have a hemolytic action, but the mechanisms responsible for this effect are not well established. In order to elucidate whether or not the hemolytic action of heavy metal ions is associated with the peroxidation of membrane lipids, the relationship between metal-induced hemolysis and the generation of malonaldehyde has been studied. The results obtained show that the metal-induced hemolysis is associated with the development of peroxidative processes in erythrocyte membranes. The peroxidation is caused by metals with and without pro-oxidant catalytic action. The level of the malonaldehyde products rises before the appearance of hemolysis which proves that the development of peroxidative processes precedes but does not result from hemolysis. The suggestion has been made that the peroxidation of membrane lipids is a possible mechanism of damage to the red cell membrane in metal-induced hemolysis.