Abstract
The incorporation of L-dehydroascorbic acid (DAsA) into the pretreated human erythrocytes with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), irreversible inhibitor to GSH, was investigated. DAsA was added to the mixture of 10% of NEM-treated erythrocytes and 90% of isotonic phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37℃. Since DAsA was incorporated into NEM-treated erythrocytes within one minute in the same manner as non-treated erythrocytes, the permeation of DAsA into erythrocytes through the erythrocyte membrane was independent of the reduction of DAsA to L-ascorbic acid. The concentration of erythrocyte DAsA was proportional to that of extracellular DAsA, and reached an equilibrium state at 87% of external DAsA concentration within one minute. After 60 minutes, however, 81% of intracellular DAsA and 65% of extracellular DAsA were degraded and the concentration of erythrocyte DAsA was 47% of the external DAsA.
