The Role of Methemoglobin in Oxidative Degradation of Hemoglobin

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Abstract
The role of methemoglobin in the oxidative degradation of hemoglobin by acetylphenylhydrazine in intact red blood cells has been investigated by (1) decreasing the concentration of methemoglobin by adding methylene blue to the system; (2) increasing the concentration of methemoglobin by pre-incubating the red cells with sodium nitrite; (3) attempting to block the further degradation of methemoglobin by complexing with cyanide ion. Decreasing methemoglobin concentration did not prevent destruction of "intact hemoglobin". Increasing methemoglobin concentrations did not seem to increase oxidative degradation of the pigment. "Blocking" further degradation of methemoglobin with cyanide decreased precipitate formation, but did not decrease the amount of sulfhemoglobin formed nor the amount of soluble hemoglobin pigment. Contrary to earlier reports, it has been found that the cyanmethemoglobin bond is not stable. It has also been demonstrated that the inhibition of catalase by cyanide is readily reversible.