THE REDUCTION OF METHEMOGLOBIN IN NEO RED CELL

The hemoglobin oxidation factors that produce methemoglobin (metHb) were studied, for example, loss of enzymatic activity, lack of electron carrier and effect of lipids. The adverse effect of lipids is very pronounced and must be eliminated as much as possible in the producing Neo Red Cell (NRC). The process of swelling was studied. Liquid for swelling was varied from water to basic liquids. The pH of swollen lipids varied from acidic to neutral or basic, metHb was decreased and the enzymes in the Embden-Meyerhof pathway were activated. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) which is a component of mixed lipids is decomposed to lisophosphatidylcholine (liso-PC) in basic pH liquids, but liso-PC formation was not detected when the pH of swollen lipids was under 7.8. For both metHb formation and PC decomposition, swelling with the same quantity of 0.2 N aqueous sodium hydroxide proved optimal.