Species differences of galactose metabolism in erythrocytes

Abstract

Keiding S. Species differences of galactose metabolism in erythrocytes. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1985; 45: 697–700.

Galactose metabolism was studied in suspensions of erythrocytes from man, rat, ox and pig at approximate steady-state galactose concentrations from 0.1–6.5 mmol/1. There was no detectable galactose elimination in pig erythrocytes. In the three other species the elimination followed saturation kinetics with the maximal elimination rate, V_max, being 8.0 μmolmin^-1 -l^-1 human erythrocytes; 12 μmol-mirr^-1l^-1 rat erythrocytes; 2.4 μmol-min^-1l^-1 bovine erythrocytes. The half saturation concentration, K_m, was about the same in all three species, around 0.2 mmol/1. If similar in vivo, erythrocyte metabolism of galactose is not of major quantitative importance compared to the hepatic metabolism in the species examined.

Key Words:

• erythrocyte
• galactose
• ox
• pig
• rat