OXIDATIVE MODIFICATION OF ERYTHROCYTES INDUCED BY SODIUM NITRITE AS A MEASURE OF ITS TOXICITY

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the effect of sodium nitrite on oxidative processes in human erythrocytes (in vitro) - hemoglobin oxidation, changes in the activity of key antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and the intensity of lipid peroxidation. The work is based on the results of a spectrophotometric study of donor blood samples exposed to a subtoxic dose of sodium nitrite with a final concentration of 1.0 mmol in the incubation medium with different incubation times from 5 to 30 minutes. The analysis of the conducted studies showed that nitrite-induced oxidation leads to a decrease of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes. A decrease of catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity and the level of GSH is accompanied by an intense accumulation of methemoglobin, and an increase in lipid peroxidation. The results obtained indicate the active participation of these antioxidant enzymes of erythrocytes in oxidative metabolism under nitrite exposure. The pronounced relationship between a decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and an increase in the intensity of lipid peroxidation indicates the predominant role of glutathione peroxidase in limiting oxidative stress in erythrocytes.