Tri-n-butyltin Aggregates and Membrane Cytotoxicity in Human Erythrocytes

Tri-n-butyltin (TBT) compounds are potent membrane effectors and their biological effects are due primarily to membrane perturbations. One tenth M TBT induces reversible discocyte-to-echinocyte transformations in human erythrocytes. TBT concentrations M cause irreversible erythrocyte shape transformations and TBT M induces hemolysis. NaCN synergistically stimulates TBT mediated hemolysis. Human erythrocytes exposed to TBT M have membrane associated tin containing aggregates intercalated between the inner and outer membrane leaflets . Tripropyltin, tetrabutyltin, and triethyltin compounds also form electron microscopically visible membrane aggregates. In addition, select dimercapto compounds inhibit TBT mediated hemolysis implicating their possible use as therapeutic agents.