The Relationship between Hemoglobin, NADH- diaphorase or Glutathione Types and the Metabolism of Methemoglobin in Sheep Erythrocytes

Abstract

The presence of metabolic processes is known in erythrocytes for protection against the oxidation of hemoglobin (Hb) and the reduction of methemoglobin (met Hb) to Hb, for the maintenance of functional Hb. Using electrophoresis or photometry, sheep erythrocytes can be grouped into three phenotypes; A, AB and B for Hb; F, FS and S for NADH-diaphorase (Dia), and two phenotypes, high and low, for reduced glutathione (GSH), as substances related to the metabolism of metHb. In order to examine the relationship between these biochemical polymorphisms and the levels of metHb, Dia and GSH in the erythrocytes of Finnish Landrace sheep, these parameters were measured and the following results obtained: 1) In hematocrit (Ht) values among Hb types and Dia types, the order of A>AB>B for Hb types and F>FS>S for Dia types was shown, respectively. A significant difference was found between types Hb A and Hb (P<0.001), and between types Dia F and Dia S (P<0.02). Concerning Ht values between typical GSH types, high-type sheep tended to have higher values than low-type sheep. 2) The metHb concentration of the Hb A type sheep was significantly lower than that of the Hb B type sheep (P<0.001). In Dia levels between Hb types, Hb A type sheep tended to have lower enzymic activity than the Hb B type sheep. For the GSH concentration in the red cells of Hb types, the following order, A>AB>B, was obtained, and a significant difference was shown between types Hb A and Hb B (P<0.05). 3) With respect to the differences in Dia activity between electrophoretic types, the F type sheep had a significantly lower value than the S type sheep (P<0.01). F type animals were also shown to have significantly lower metHb concentration and higher GSH concentration than S type animals (P<0.01, respectively). 4) Comparing the two typical GSH types, the high-type animals showed significantly lower levels of metHb and Dia than did the low-type animals (P<0.01).