Determination of Lipid Peroxidation in Desiccated Red Blood Cells

Lipid peroxidation of biological membranes is one of the most studied indicators of oxidative stress. Very little is known about the extent of oxidative damage that occurs during the desiccation of mammalian cells. The objective of this study was to modify and validate a method for the determination of lipid peroxidation in desiccated red blood cells (RBCs). The measurement of malondialdehydes (MDAs), the decomposition products of oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids, is commonly used as a method for the quantification of lipid peroxidation. The method is based on the reaction of MDAs with thiobarbituric acid, which forms a thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) chromophore. Validation of the method to dried RBC specimens included the optimization of an MDA standard curve, spiking studies, measurement of TBARS in lyophilized RBCs, and reexamination of the reagents and processes that are associated with this assay. The recovery of MDA standards, which were lyophilized with RBCs was reasonable (72....