In Vitro Uptake of Salicylate by Human Red Blood Cells

Distribution and binding properties of sodium salicylate the human red blood cells were studied under various experimental conditions. The effect of tonicity and hemolysis on the steady state level of the drug within the human red blood cells were accounted for in this study. When the washed cells were suspended in normal saline solution, the drug was so rapidly permeated into red cells. Since the pH of the system forces nearly complete ionization of the drug, ionic diffusion through aqueous pores is thought to be the mode of salicylate transport. Human red cell binding capacity and association constant for salicylate were estimated. This work supports the view that the red cells act asan important reservior of salicylate.