AbstractWhen rats were exposed to 2 mg l−1(˜640 ppm) of carbon dislfide (CS2) for 4 h, the concentration of free CS2in the red blood cells (RBCs) approached a plateau within 2 h. Free CS2in plasma reached a steady state concentration within 15 min of exposure. More than 90 of the free CS2in blood was found in the RBCs regardless of the length of exposure.In vitrostudies showed that about 90 of the free CS2partitioned into the RBCs regardless of whether the CS2was added first to the plasma or directly to the RBCs. Hence, it appears that the RBC is the major carrier of CS2in blood. It was found that 98 of the free CS2in red blood cell lysates was associated with hemoglobin. Free CS2in RBCs was readily partitioned into olive oil (RBCs/oil=1/6), less readily into the plasma (RBCs/plsma=12/1), and only to a small extent into phosphate buffer (RBCs/buffer=39/1). The extraction of free CS2‐loaded RBCs into albumin solution increased with increasing albumin concentrations. CS2can be extracted with buffer, protein solution, and oil, indicating that CS2in RBCs can be transferred to the medium in which the RBCs contact. It is proposed that RBCs may also play an important role in the transport of CS2from lung to tissues and vice versa. The possible role of RBCs in the transport of other organic solvents in the blood is also discu
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