ABSTRACT
The reaction of hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, with hemoglobin is of interest as hydrogen peroxide has been discussed as an active intermediate in ferrihemoglobin formation with various mechanisms. Whenever the appearance of hydrogen peroxide in a ferrihemoglobin-forming reaction was demonstrated, the mechanism of the reaction appeared, at least partly, elucidated. Close correlation is found between the rate of ferrihemoglobin formation by hydrogen peroxide slowly generated with glucose oxidase and the catalase content of red cells of a variety of species. The role hydrogen peroxide might play in the formation of ferrihemoglobin by reducing agents such as phenylhydroxylamine was investigated by R. Eyer et al. Potassium ferricyanide is widely used to prepare ferrihemoglobin. The formation of ferrihemoglobin by hydroxylamine was first observed when C. Raimondi and G. Bertoni saw the brown discoloration of blood and its reduced capacity to accept oxygen after the application of hydroxylamine in vivo or in vitro.
