THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF RABBIT RED CELLS DURING LYSIS, WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF PLASMA

¹ Washington Square College, New York University

1. When rabbit erythrocytes suspended in saline are hæmolysed the resulting consumption cannot be predicted with certainty. The usual response is a very small "burst" in oxygen consumption, but very large bursts are sometimes obtained.

2. When the cells are permitted to stand some hours in saline a substance escapes from them which inhibits the bursts. In its absence the small burst is increased in magnitude, but never to that of the large ones.

3. Numerous variables which do not determine the size of the burst are listed, and evidence is given which indicates that the burst is probably not related to the normal metabolism of the cells.

4. The plasma of normal rabbits consumes a small amount of oxygen (about 1·7 mm.³/c.c./hr.). This is probably due to autoxidation of the lipoids and proteins present.

5. The oxygen consumption of plasma is increased to show a burst when cells are hæmolysed in it or when non-respiring hæmolysed cells are added. This burst is heat-stable and only slightly cyanide-sensitive. It is probably due to catalysis of lipoid and protein autoxidation by the pigments of the lysed cells.

6. When rabbit blood-cells are suspended in plasma the observed oxygen consumption is the sum of that due to the cells and that of the plasma.