Hemolysis caused by cetomacrogol 1000: evidence for hydroxyl radical participation.

The mechanism of cetomacrogol 1000-induced hemolysis was investigated. Previous conclusions that peroxides are involved in the hemolytic process were confirmed. The possibility that hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radical, or singlet oxygen, which are known to induce hemolysis, are involved in cetomacrogol 1000-induced hemolysis was tested by using specific inhibitors and inactivators. The hydroxyl radical (OH.) was shown to be the only apparent oxygen species involved in cetomacrogol 1000-induced hemolysis. Its contribution to the hemolytic potency of the surfactant is approximately 30%.