Toxicity of aromatic disulphides. II. Intraerythrocytic hydrogen peroxide formation and oxidative damage by aromatic disulphides.

Diphenyl disulphide has been shown to generate hydrogen peroxide in erythrocytes in vitro. It also induces oxidative damage (reversible and irreversible haemoglobin oxidation, depletion of non-protein and protein-bound thiols) in these cells. Such changes were also recorded in erythrocytes exposed to 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl disulphide, 2,2'-diaminodiphenyl disulphide, 4,4'-dimethyldiphenyl disulphide, 4,4'-dinitrodiphenyl disulphide, diphenyl disulphide-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid and dibenzyl disulphide. The relative potency of these compounds in causing erythrocyte damage is correlated with their ability to generate 'active oxygen' species in vitro.