Summary
The distribution of digoxin, digitoxin and ouabain between plasma and erythrocytes in the blood of different species was investigated. In man, cattle, dog, guinea-pig, cat and rat the ratios between erythrocytes and plasma were 0.90, 0.86, 0.90, 0.97, 2.32, 3.50 respectively for digoxin, 0.09, 0.19, 0.11, 0.21, 0.31, 0.26 respectively for digitoxin, and 0.03, 0.09, 0.01, 0.09, 0.09, 0.04 respectively for ouabain.
When buffer solution was used instead of plasma these ratios changed only for digitoxin. The values for human, bovine and rat erythrocytes were 1.37, 1.25 and 2.87 respectively. These changes are most likely to be due to the strong binding of digitoxin to the plasma proteins. The percentage of unbound digitoxin in the plasma was 6.1 in man, 13.1 in cattle and 7.5 in rats.
The greater uptake of digoxin by rat erythrocytes depended mainly upon its high affinity for rat hemoglobin and also on its attachment to membrane constituents.
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We wish to acknowledge the skillful technical assistance of Mrs. B. Dalichow and Mrs. K. Schulz.
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Abshagen, U., Kewitz, H. & Rietbrock, N. Distribution of digoxin, digitoxin and ouabain between plasma and erythrocytes in various species. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmak. 270, 105–116 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00997082
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00997082