Protective effect of selenium compounds in the freeze preservation of erythrocytes

: The influence of sodium selenite, selenomethionine and sodium selenite with tocopherols in combination on the survival of cryopreserved erythrocytes was investigated. Percent hemolysis is marked decreased after a three-hour incubation of the whole blood with addition of selenomethionine as well as sodium selenite with tocopherole in combination before cryopreservation. The protective effect is attributed to the antioxydative and membrane stabilizing effectiveness of selenium and tocopherol.