Evaluation of methemoglobin formation from hemoglobin in the blood of normal and acatalasemic mice using nitric oxide or nitric dioxide

The formation of methemoglobin from hemoglobin in the hemolysates and erythrocytes of normal and acatalasemic mice was studied by exposure to nitric oxide and nitric dioxide. The data indicated that the ratio of methemoglobin formation in acatalasemic mice is larger than that in the normal mice in every case, and nitric oxide has a stronger action compared to nitric dioxide in regard to methemoglobin formation. The results indicated that hemoglobin is changed to methemoglobin through nitrosylhemoglobin with nitric oxide, and catalase has an inhibiting action on this oxidation process.