The binding of ciamexone to globin: its demonstration and some accompanying effects in rats

The 2-cyanaziridines Ciamexone and Azimexone in doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg lead to a reversible dose-dependent formation of thermolabile hemoglobin and Heinz bodies, a lowered erythrocyte count, and splenomegaly. According to our investigations these effects may have been caused by a covalent binding of the 2-cyanaziridines or their metabolites to globin in the erythrocytes. This binding was shown by gel electrophoresis using 14C-labeled Ciamexone. The change of the globin had no influence on the oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin.