The interaction of phosphine with haemoglobin and erythrocytes.

Abstract

1. Phosphine progressively converts oxyhaemoglobin to methaemoglobin and hemichrome species, with the product formed being time- and concentration-dependent. 2. The reaction of phosphine with oxyhaemoglobin leads to the formation of phosphite and phosphate. 3. Incubation of rat erythrocytes with various concentrations of phosphine results in the progressive uptake of phosphine by the erythrocytes in a temperature-dependent first-order process. 4. Uptake of phosphine by erythrocytes causes crenation, but conversion of oxyhaemoglobin to methaemoglobin and hemichrome could not be demonstrated.