Biomaterial Database

Factors affecting the exchange of tocopherol between red blood cells and plasma. 1977

J G Bieri, and R P Evarts, and S Thorp

The purpose of this study was to clarify factors that affect the equilibrium distribution of alpha-tocopherol between red blood cells and plasma. Plasma labeled with 14C-alpha-tocopherol was incubated with red cells for 4 to 6 hr and the distribution of the tocopherol determined in the two compartments (red blood cell (RBC: plasma ratio). Use of heparin as anticoagulant gave a higher RBC: plasma ratio than acid citrate dextrose. The RBC:plasma ratio was affected by the hematocrit of the incubation mixture, higher ratios being obtained with lower hematocrits. The ratio was not related to the plasma concentration of alpha-toxopherol, indicating that the red cell was not saturated up to four times normal plasma levels. Of possible clinical significance was the finding that the RBC: plasma ratio was related to the total lipid concentration of plasma. Red cell content of alpha-tocopherol decreased as plasma lipids increased, until at three times normal plasma lipid concentration the red cells had one-third or less of their normal concentration of alpha-tocopherol. The implications of this observation on the relationship between plasma and tissue aplha-tocopherol are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006949	Hyperlipidemias	Conditions with excess LIPIDS in the blood.	Hyperlipemia,Hyperlipidemia,Lipemia,Lipidemia,Hyperlipemias,Lipemias,Lipidemias
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D008297	Male		Males
D010949	Plasma	The residual portion of BLOOD that is left after removal of BLOOD CELLS by CENTRIFUGATION without prior BLOOD COAGULATION.	Blood Plasma,Fresh Frozen Plasma,Blood Plasmas,Fresh Frozen Plasmas,Frozen Plasma, Fresh,Frozen Plasmas, Fresh,Plasma, Blood,Plasma, Fresh Frozen,Plasmas,Plasmas, Blood,Plasmas, Fresh Frozen
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D006400	Hematocrit	The volume of packed RED BLOOD CELLS in a blood specimen. The volume is measured by centrifugation in a tube with graduated markings, or with automated blood cell counters. It is an indicator of erythrocyte status in disease. For example, ANEMIA shows a low value; POLYCYTHEMIA, a high value.	Erythrocyte Volume, Packed,Packed Red-Cell Volume,Erythrocyte Volumes, Packed,Hematocrits,Packed Erythrocyte Volume,Packed Erythrocyte Volumes,Packed Red Cell Volume,Packed Red-Cell Volumes,Red-Cell Volume, Packed,Red-Cell Volumes, Packed,Volume, Packed Erythrocyte,Volume, Packed Red-Cell,Volumes, Packed Erythrocyte,Volumes, Packed Red-Cell
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014810	Vitamin E	A generic descriptor for all TOCOPHEROLS and TOCOTRIENOLS that exhibit ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL activity. By virtue of the phenolic hydrogen on the 2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol nucleus, these compounds exhibit varying degree of antioxidant activity, depending on the site and number of methyl groups and the type of ISOPRENOIDS.
D014811	Vitamin E Deficiency	A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of VITAMIN E in the diet, characterized by posterior column and spinocerebellar tract abnormalities, areflexia, ophthalmoplegia, and disturbances of gait, proprioception, and vibration. In premature infants vitamin E deficiency is associated with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytosis, edema, intraventricular hemorrhage, and increasing risk of retrolental fibroplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. An apparent inborn error of vitamin E metabolism, named familial isolated vitamin E deficiency, has recently been identified. (Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p1181)	Deficiency, Vitamin E,Deficiencies, Vitamin E,Vitamin E Deficiencies