Methemoglobin formation from hemoglobin by nitrite ion in the erythrocytes of normal and acatalasemic mice; in vivo and in vitro study

The formation of methemoglobin from hemoglobin by nitrite ion in the erythrocytes of normal and acatalasemic mice and that in the erythrocytes of both mice injected with nitrite ion were studied. The formation of methemoglobin from hemoglobin by nitrite ion in red cells with or without the addition of glucose in vitro was also studied. Methemoglobin concentration in red cells of acatalasemic mice after the addition of NaNO(2) was higher than that in red cells of normal mice. The addition of glucose inhibited the formation of methemoglobin from hemoglobin by nitrite ion. Methemoglobin concentration in the blood of mice injected with NaNO(2) (1550μg/g) was determined. The results indicated that methemoglobin concentration in the blood of acatalasemic mice is higher than that in the blood of normal mice. These results indicated that the formation of methemoglobin from hemoglobin by nitrite ion appears to be controlled by the activity of blood catalase.