Evaluation of lipid peroxidation in red blood cells by monitoring the uptake of sucrose and phenol red

Red blood cells (RBCs) are prone to lipid peroxidation by virtue of their function as oxygen carriers, and also because of their lipid composition. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content using thiobarbituric reagent is widely used to quantify lipid peroxidation. In this study we compare MDA assay with a newly developed assay that evaluates the uptake of sucrose and phenol red into RBCs under peroxidative stress. Both sucrose and phenol red uptake show significantly higher correlation with incubation time compared with MDA assay. Furthermore, phenol red uptake into RBCs on treatment with H₂O₂ has a direct linear proportional relationship, whereas it is hyperbolic with MDA. The assay also clearly shows that uptake of sucrose or phenol red is specific for intact cells (RBCs) prior to hemolysis. Assay validation is carried out by using known lipid peroxidation-causing agents, such as ferrous ions, and also by using peroxidation inhibitors such as α -tocopherol. This new method can be applied efficiently to evaluate lipid peroxidation in RBCs as well as other cells and tissues.