The Biological Reductive Capacity of Tissues is Decreased Following Exposure to Oxidative Stress: A Cyclic Voltammetry Study of Irradiated Rats

The reductive capacity of rat tissue homogenates and body fluids was determined by cyclic voltammetric measurements. The reductive capacity of rat lung, liver and kidney homogenates was significantly reduced four days after total body γ-ray irradiation with 5.5 Gy as compared to controls. In parallel, reduced ability of the irradiated organ homogenates to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and to destroy hydrogen peroxide was recorded. However, no difference in their superoxide dismutase activity was found. The possible use of cyclic voltammetry as a method for qualitative evaluation of the ability of biological tissues to cope with oxidative stress is discussed.