Separation and characterization of the aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation stimulated by carbon tetrachloride or ADP-iron in isolated rat hepatocytes and rat liver microsomal suspensions.

Carbonyl products were separated and identified in suspensions of rat liver microsomal fractions and in isolated hepatocytes, after stimulation of lipid peroxidation by incubation with the pro-oxidants CCl4 and ADP-iron. The carbonyl products were allowed to react with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, and the derivatives were extracted and separated by t.l.c. into three zones of non-polar materials, and one fraction of polar derivatives that remained at the origin. Separation of the individual non-polar hydrazones in each zone by h.p.l.c. demonstrated that zone I prepared from microsomal fraction or hepatocytes incubated with CCl4 or ADP-iron contained mainly 4-hydroxyhex-2-enal, 4-hydroxynon-2-enal and 4-hydroxynona-2,5-dienal. Zone III consisted mainly of the alkanals propanal, pentanal and hexanal, the 2-alkenals propenal, pent-2-enal, hex-2-enal, hept-2-enal, oct-2-enal and non-2-enal, the ketones butanone, pentan-2-one and pentan-3-one, and deca-2,4-dienal. Incubation of a microsomal fraction with ADP-iron was much more effective in producing malonaldehyde and other carbonyl products than an incubation with CCl4. Despite such quantitative differences, there were no obvious qualitative differences in the h.p.l.c. spectra obtained from zones I and III. However, the stoichiometric evaluation of fatty acid loss and the production of malonaldehyde and other carbonyls suggests that the pathways of lipid peroxidation triggered by CCl4 and ADP-iron are different. The accumulation of carbonyl products of lipid peroxidation in isolated hepatocytes is strongly affected by their metabolism; in particular, 4-hydroxyalkenals were found to be metabolized very rapidly. Nonetheless, both CCl4 and ADP-iron produced stimulation in the production of malonaldehyde and non-polar carbonyl production. After incubation of rat hepatocytes with CCl4 or ADP-iron it was found that approx. 50% of the total amount of non-polar carbonyls produced during incubation escaped into the external medium. This was not leakage from dead cells, as 90-95% of the hepatocytes had retained their integrity at the end of the incubation. Release of carbonyl products from cells stimulated to undergo lipid peroxidation may be a mechanism for spreading an initial intracellular disturbance to affect critical targets outside the parent cell.     

Inhibition of protein carbonyl formation and lipid peroxidation by glutathione in rat liver microsomes.

The peroxidation of rat liver microsomal lipids is stimulated in the presence of iron by the addition of NADPH or ascorbate and is inhibited by the addition of glutathione (GSH). The fate of GSH and the oxidative modification of proteins under these conditions have not been well studied. Rat liver microsomes were incubated at 37 degrees C under 95% O2:5% CO2 in the presence of 10 microM ferric chloride, 400 microM ADP, and either 450 microM ascorbic acid or 400 microM NADPH. Lipid peroxidation was assessed in the presence 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, or 5 mM GSH by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and oxidative modification of proteins by measuring protein thiol and carbonyl groups. GSH inhibited TBARS and protein carbonyl group formation in both ascorbate and NADPH systems in a dose-dependent manner. Heat denaturing of microsomes or treatment with trypsin resulted in the loss of this protection. The formation of protein carbonyl groups could be duplicated by incubating microsomes with 4-hydroxynonenal. Ascorbate-dependent peroxidation caused a loss of protein thiol groups which was diminished by GSH only in fresh microsomes. Both boiling and trypsin treatment significantly decreased the basal protein thiol content of microsomes and enhanced ascorbate-stimulated lipid peroxidation. Protection against protein carbonyl group formation by GSH correlated with the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and appeared not to be due to the formation of the GSH conjugate of 4-hydroxynonenal as only trace amounts of this conjugate were detected. Ninety percent of the GSH lost after 60 min of peroxidation was recoverable as borohydride reducible material in the supernatant fraction. The remaining 10% could be accounted for as GSH-bound protein mixed disulfides. However, only 75% of the GSH lost during peroxidation appeared as glutathione disulfide, suggesting that some was converted to other soluble borohydride reducible forms. These data support a role for protein thiol groups in the GSH-mediated protection of microsomes against lipid peroxidation.     

Oxidation of esterified arachidonate by rat liver microsomes

Rat hepatic microsomal lipids were labeled with [U-14C]arachidonate and were then peroxidized by an NADPH-dependent iron pyrophosphate system. The extent of peroxidation was quantified by malondialdehyde production and arachidonate disappearance. Following peroxidation, the microsomes were centrifuged and the oxidation products were extracted from the supernatant. A linear correlation was found between malondialdehyde production and radioactivity in the supernatant. The pellet was treated with phospholipase A2 to cleave peroxidized products from the phospholipids. Exogenous phospholipase A2 activity was reduced by lipid peroxidation but this was overcome by using a high concentration of the enzyme along with the addition of melittin. The deesterified lipid products from the pellet were extracted and the fragments from the supernatant and the hydrolyzed pellet were separated by reverse-phase HPLC. Several different labeled polar products which coeluted with carbonyl-containing compounds (A285 and hydrazone formation) were found in both the supernatant and the pellet. In addition, many other carbonyl compounds were found which were not arachidonate-derived. The elution pattern of the fragments after 2 and 15 min of peroxidation were qualitatively identical; i.e., no product-precursor relationship was seen. This, along with the observation that peroxidation quickly ceased upon the rapid depletion of NADPH, suggests that propagation did not occur. Finally, the data indicate that cytochrome P-450 is not involved in microsomal lipid peroxidation since product formation is unaffected by the presence of carbon monoxide (80%) and no oxidation of phospholipid arachidonate occurs in the absence of iron.     

Enzymic lipid peroxidation in the microsomal fraction of rat brain

Abstract: An enzymic lipid peroxidation system has been demonstrated in the microsomal fraction of rat brain and the requirements and optimal conditions for assay determined. The involvement of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was demonstrated in vesicles reconstituted with lipids extracted from the brain microsomal fraction. Further characterization of the system made use of substances shown to inhibit the liver microsomal system. α-Tocopherol was shown to be an effective inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in the brain microsomal system, whereas Na₂SO₃ had no effect, which is indicative that free radical transfer occurs only in the hydrophobic regions. Neither superoxide dismutase nor catalase inhibited lipid peroxidation. The implications of an NADPH-cytochrome c reductase-dependent lipid peroxidation system that is not linked to a drug hydroxylation system and appears to differ from the liver microsomal system in a number of other ways are discussed.     

Inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by glutathione and glutathione transferases B and AA. Role of endogenous phospholipase A2.

Lipid peroxidation in vitro in rat liver microsomes (microsomal fractions) initiated by ADP-Fe3+ and NADPH was inhibited by the rat liver soluble supernatant fraction. When this fraction was subjected to frontal-elution chromatography, most, if not all, of its inhibitory activity could be accounted for by the combined effects of two fractions, one containing Se-dependent glutathione (GSH) peroxidase activity and the other the GSH transferases. In the latter fraction, GSH transferases B and AA, but not GSH transferases A and C, possessed inhibitory activity. GSH transferase B replaced the soluble supernatant fraction as an effective inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in vitro. If the microsomes were pretreated with the phospholipase A2 inhibitor p-bromophenacyl bromide, neither the soluble supernatant fraction nor GSH transferase B inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro. Similarly, if all microsomal enzymes were heat-inactivated and lipid peroxidation was initiated with FeCl3/sodium ascorbate neither the soluble supernatant fraction nor GSH transferase B caused inhibition, but in both cases inhibition could be restored by the addition of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 to the incubation. It is concluded that the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation in vitro requires the consecutive action of phospholipase A2, which releases fatty acyl hydroperoxides from peroxidized phospholipids, and GSH peroxidases, which reduce them. The GSH peroxidases involved are the Se-dependent GSH peroxidase and the Se-independent GSH peroxidases GSH transferases B and AA.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls-induced lipid peroxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver subcellular fractions of rats

Rats were given a 0.05% polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) diet supplemented with adequate nutrients for 10 days and not only PCB-induced lipid peroxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substances but also variations of lipid peroxides scavengers in liver and its subcellular fractions (nuclei and cell debris, mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic fractions) were investigated. The lipid peroxidation in liver and subcellular fractions in the PCB-treated group increased significantly except in the nuclei and cell debris fraction. The increase in lipid peroxidation in the microsomal fraction appeared to be associated in part with the decrease in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) content and induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes. In the cytosolic fraction, the total lipid content increased, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity decreased and the quantity of free radical-reactive substances suppressing lipid peroxidation was low as measured by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) value. From these results, the increase in lipid peroxidation in the cytosolic fraction in the PCB-treated group was ascribed to the abundance and availability of oxidizable substrate attended with fatty liver, to the decline in GSHPx activity, and to the insufficiency in antioxygenic activity as observed by the decrease in the DPPH value.     

The effect of lipid peroxidation on the calcium-accumulating ability of the microsomal fraction isolated from chicken breast muscle.

The effect of lipid peroxidation on the Ca2+-accumulating and Ca2+-retaining abilities of the microsomal fraction from chicken breast muscle was investigated. At 25 degrees C, enzymic lipid peroxidation did not seriously affect either of these abilities unless ascorbic acid was present, when both were diminished. At 37 degrees C, Ca2+-concentrating ability was decreased further by the effects of heat damage to the membrane. Membrane lipid peroxidation did not affect microsomal adenosine triphosphatase activity unless the microsomal fraction was subsequently washed with albumin. This effect of albumin is possibly due to removal of lipid-breakdown products. Addition of soya-bean phospholipids to the peroxidized vesicles washed with albumin restored adenosine triphosphatase activity, demonstrating a non-specific phospholipid requirement.     

Effect of lecithin on liver microsomal lipid peroxidation]

The effect of exogeneous (egg) lecithin on peroxidation of microsomal lipids was studied with the view of elucidating the role of various components of lipid substrate in the overall oxidation rate of the lipids. The following processes were studied a) NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation in the presence of lecithin; b) ascorbate-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation in the presence of lecithin; c) oxidation of lipid mixture, isolated from the microsomes, and that of lecithin in the presence of the Fe2+ + ascorbate system; 4) oxidation of lecithin induced by the Fe2+ + ascorbate system. It was found that in the presence of exogeneous lecithin the oxidation of microsomal lipids in inhibited, which is probably due to the peculiarities of lecithin oxidation. It was shown that the specific rate of lecithin oxidation is decreased with an increase in lecithin concentration. Possible mechanisms of lecithin effect on microsomal lipid peroxidation are discussed.     

EXISTENCE OF ASCORBIC ACID AS AN ACTIVATOR OF THIAMINE DlPHOSPHATASE IN RAT BRAIN

The effect of the supernatant fraction (105,000 g for 60 min) of rat brain on the microsomal thiamine diphosphatase activity was examined. The thiamine diphosphatase activity was increased by addition of the supernatant fraction. The factor activating the enzyme was a heat-stable and dialyzable substance. It caused lipid peroxidation in the microsomes and the increase of the enzyme activity was mediated through lipid peroxidation of the preparation. When the supernatant fraction was chromatographed on columns of Sephadex G-25 and Dowex 1 × 2, the activator was eluted in fractions containing ascorbic acid. The inhibitory factor of ATPase present in the supernatant fraction was also eluted with the activator. The u.v.-spectrum of the active fraction obtained by these chromatographies was the same as that of ascorbic acid. These findings indicate the existence of ascorbic acid as an activator of thiamine diphosphatase in rat brain and confirm the previous finding that the soluble factor inhibiting ATPase activity is ascorbic acid.     

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Systems in Rat Brain: Effect of Chronic Alcohol Consumption

The effect of chronic ethanol exposure, in a liquid diet, on lipid peroxidation and some antioxidant systems of rat brain was investigated. Chronic ethanol administration induced a greater susceptibility to iron/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation, estimated as thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) production, in the microsomal fraction, but a lower lipid peroxidation in the total homogenate. Glutathione (GSH) levels as well as GSH peroxidase and GSH reductase were unaffected, while the activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase was decreased and that of catalase increased. Lipid peroxidation experiments performed in the presence of some hydroxyl radical scavengers suggested that a greater OH^· generation may be responsible of the greater TBARS production in the microsomal fraction of ethanol treated rats; differently, in total homogenate of control and ethanol rats a relationship was found between the redox state of iron and TBARS production, suggesting that the lower lipid peroxidation in treated rats may depend on a different modulation of the iron redox state.     

Detection of 4-hydroxynonenal and other lipid peroxidation products in the liver of bromobenzene-poisoned mice

Lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes leads to the formation of toxic aldehydes. One product provided with particular reactivity has been identified as 4-hydroxynonenal and thoroughly studied as one of the possible mediators of the cellular injury induced by pro-oxidants. In the present study we have searched for the presence of 4-hydroxynonenal and other lipid peroxidation products in the liver of bromobenzene-poisoned mice, since under this experimental condition the level of lipid peroxidation is much greater than in the case of CCl4 or BrCCl3 hepatotoxicity. 4-Hydroxynonenal was looked for in liver extracts as either free aldehyde or its 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative. In both cases, by means of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography, a well resolved peak corresponding to the respective standards (free aldehyde or 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative) was obtained. Total carbonyls present in the liver of intoxicated animals were detected as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives. The hydrazones were pre-separated by TLC into three fractions according to different polarity (polar, non-polar, fraction I, and non-polar, fraction II). The amounts of carbonyls present in each fraction were determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. 'Non-polar carbonyls, fraction II' were further fractionated by TLC. The fraction containing alkanals and alk-2-enals was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and several aldehydes were identified. In addition, protein bound carbonyls were determined in the liver of bromobenzene-treated mice. The biological implications of the finding of 4-hydroxynonenal and other carbonyls in vivo in an experimental model of hepatotoxicity are discussed.     

Glutathione peroxidase and iron-thiol dependent lipid peroxidation

Role of glutathione peroxidase in iron-thiol-mediated lipid peroxidation was examined. The enzyme was unable to prevent peroxidation of extracted rat liver microsomal lipids. In contrast, when arachidonic acid was the substrate, glutathione peroxidase did decrease the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material. Superoxide dismutase produced a consistent but partial inhibition of peroxidation and catalase was without effect. Our results suggest that iron-thiol-dependent lipid peroxidation cannot be completely blocked by protective enzymes that are effective in other systems.     

Effect of aminazin on the enzymatic oxidation of lipids]

An inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine on the enzymatic NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal fraction was found. This inhibition was caused by the 1) antioxidative effect of hydroxy-derivatives appearing during the oxidative metabolism of chlorpromazine with NADPH-dependent microsomal oxygenases, and by the 2) competition for reduced components of electron-carriers between the NADPH-dependent processes: chlorpromazine metabolism and lipids peroxidation.     

The role of lipid peroxidation in the N-oxidation of 4-chloroaniline.

Irradiation with u.v. light of aerobic aqueous media containing both rabbit liver microsomal fraction and 4-chloroaniline results in N-oxidation of the arylamine. The reaction is severely blocked by exhaustive extraction with organic solvents of the microsomal membranes to remove lipids. Further, scavengers of OH. and O2.-impair the photochemical process. These findings suggest that the observed phenomenon may be closely associated with light-induced lipid peroxidation. Indeed, N-oxidation of 4-chloroaniline is fully preserved when either phospholipid liposomes or dispersed linoleic acid substitute for intact microsomal fraction. Co-oxidation of the amine substrate occurs during iron/ascorbate-promoted lipid peroxidation also, but H2O2 or free OH. radicals do not appear to be involved. Cumene hydroperoxide-sustained rabbit liver microsomal turnover of the amine generates N-oxy product via O2-dependent and -independent pathways; propagation of lipid peroxidation is presumed to govern the former route. Lipid hydroperoxides, either exogenously added to rabbit liver microsomal suspensions or enzymically formed from arachidonic acid in ram seminal-vesicle microsomal preparations, support N-oxidation of 4-chloroaniline. The significance, in arylamine activation, of lipid peroxidation in certain extrahepatic tissues exhibiting but low mono-oxygenase activity is discussed.     

Fatty acid composition and lipid peroxidation of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, fed different dietary lipid sources

Juvenile soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) were fed 7 diets containing 8% of lard, soybean oil, olive oil, menhaden fish oil, or mixtures of 1 to 1 ratio of fish oil and lard, soybean oil, olive oil for 10 weeks. Growth and muscle proximate compositions of the turtles were not affected by different dietary treatments (p>0.05). Fatty acid profiles in muscle polar lipids, muscle non-polar lipids, and liver polar lipids reflected the fatty acid composition of dietary lipid source. Turtles fed diets containing fish oil generally contained significantly higher (p<0.05) proportion of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in both polar and non-polar lipids of muscle and polar fraction of liver lipids than those fed other oils. Non-polar fraction of liver lipids from all groups of turtles contained less than 1% of HUFA. All turtles contained relatively high proportions of oleic acid in their lipids regardless of the dietary lipid source. Further, lipid peroxidation in both muscle tissue and liver microsomes of turtles fed fish oil as the sole lipid source was greater (p<0.05) than those fed fish oil-free diets. Turtles fed olive oil as the sole lipid source had the lowest lipid peroxidation rate among all dietary groups. The results indicate that dietary n-3 HUFA may not be crucial for optimal growth of soft-shelled turtles although they may be used for metabolic purpose. Further, high level of dietary HUFA not only increases the HUFA content in turtle tissues, but also enhances the susceptibility of these tissues to lipid peroxidation.     

Inhibition by coenzyme Q of ethanol- and carbon tetrachloride-stimulated lipid peroxidation in vivo and catalyzed by microsomal and mitochondrial systems

The ability of coenzyme Q to inhibit lipid peroxidation in intact animals as well as in mitochondrial, submitochondrial, and microsomal systems has been tested. Rats fed coenzyme Q prior to being treated with carbon tetrachloride or while being treated with ethanol excrete less thiobarbituric acid-reacting material in the urine than such rats not fed coenzyme Q. Liver homogenates, mitochondria, and microsomes isolated from rats treated with carbon tetrachloride and ethanol catalyze lipid peroxidation at rates which exceed those from animals also fed coenzyme Q. The rate of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by submitochondrial particles isolated from hearts of young, old, and endurance trained elderly rats was inversely proportional to the coenzyme Q content of the submitochondrial preparation in assays in which succinate was employed to reduce the endogenous coenzyme Q. Reduced, but not oxidized, coenzyme Q inhibited lipid peroxidation catalyzed by rat liver microsomal preparations. These results provide additional evidence in support of an antioxidant role for coenzyme Q.     

Species differences in membrane susceptibility to lipid peroxidation

The susceptibility of liver microsomes to lipid peroxidation was evaluated in seven species: rat, rabbit, trout, mouse, pig, cow, and horse. Lipid peroxidation was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formed in the presence of either FeCl₃-ADP/ascorbate or FeCl₂/H₂O₂ initiating systems. For rat, rabbit, and trout microsomes, the order of susceptibility to peroxidation was rat > rabbit >> trout. The lack of peroxidation in trout microsomes could be explained by high microsomal vitamin E levels. Membrane fatty acid levels differed between species. Docosahexaenoic acid predominated in the trout, arachidonic acid in the rat, and linoleic acid in the rabbit. The contribution of individual fatty acids to lipid peroxidation reflected the degree of unsaturation with docosahexaenoic > arachidonic >>> linoleic. For all species except trout, the predicted susceptibility to peroxidation, based on the response of individual fatty acids, agreed well with directly measured microsomal peroxidation. With the exception of the trout, vitamin E content ranged from 0.083–0.311 nmol/mg microsomal protein between species, and low levels did not influence susceptibility to peroxidation. Trout microsomes peroxidized only after vitamin E depletion by prolonged incubation. The data indicate that below a vitamin E threshold, species differences in membrane susceptibility to peroxidation can be reasonably predicted based only on content of individual peroxidizable fatty acids.     

Detection of short-chain carbonyl products of lipid peroxidation from malaria-parasite (Plasmodium vinckei)-infected red blood cells exposed to oxidative stress.

Reversed-phase h.p.l.c. was used to detect 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-reactive carbonyl products, which excludes malonaldehyde, in malaria-parasite (Plasmodium vinckei)-infected murine red blood cells (RBCs). A number of alkanals, 4-hydroxyalk-2-enals and alka-2,4-dienals were tentatively identified by comparison with authentic standards. The formation of 4-hydroxynon-2-enal, deca-2,4-dienal and hexanal was greater in P. vinckei-infected RBCs than in their uninfected counterparts and was increased by the presence of t-butyl hydroperoxide. Several of these aldehydes have previously been shown to be toxic to various types of cells, including P. falciparum, in vitro. The iron chelator desferrioxamine and the free-radical scavenger butylated hydroxyanisole inhibited the formation of these aldehydes. These experiments demonstrate that products of lipid peroxidation other than malonaldehyde are formed during the exposure of malaria-infected RBCs in vitro to drugs that generate reactive oxygen species and have anti-parasitic activity. The formation of products of this type during the natural course of malaria infection may have implications for the mechanisms underlying intra-RBC parasite death and the tissue damage associated with the disease.     

Some high-performance liquid-chromatographic studies of the metabolism of aflatoxins by rat liver microsomal preparations.

The metabolism of aflatoxin B1 in vitro was examined in rat liver microsomal preparations. 2. H.p.l.c. (high-performance liquid-chromatographic) systems were used. A silica column was used to separate non-polar metabolites. A system utilizing a reversed-phase column which separates both poar and non-polar metabolites was also developed. 3. The principal metabolites of aflatoxin B1 found were aflatoxin M1, aflatoxin Q1 and a compound which co-chromatographed with a degradation product of aflatoxin B1 2,3-dihydrodiol. 4. The time course of metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by microsomal preparations isolated from control and phenobarbitone-pretreated rats was examined. The rate and extent of metabolism was greater with microsomal preparations from the latter. The formation of aflatoxin Q1 was enhanced 4--5-fold by phenobarbitone pretreatment, whereas the production of aflatoxin M1 was only increased 1--2-fold. The formation of the degradation product of aflatoxin B1 2,3-dihydrodiol was increased 4--5-fold by the pretreatment with phenobarbitone. 5. The microsomal metabolism of aflatoxins M1, P1 and Q1 was examined. Aflatoxin M1 apparently underwent very limited microsomal metabolism to more polar compounds. Aflatoxin P1 was not metabolized. The situation with aflatoxin Q1 was complicated in that it was metabolized in the absence of NADPH to an unidentified metabolite. Aflatoxin B1 appeared as a metabolite of aflatoxin Q1 only when NADPH was present, and the formation of more polar metabolites was also then observed.     

The inhibitory effect of reduced glutathione on the lipid peroxidation of the microsomal fraction and mitochondria

1. GSH efficiently inhibited the ascorbate-stimulated lipid peroxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids in the fresh microsomal fraction and mitochondria of rat liver, whereas the peroxidation in heat-denatured particles was little inhibited. 2. Cysteamine and diethyldithiocarbamate inhibited the peroxidation in both fresh and boiled particles. Thioglycollate and 2-mercaptoethanol had no inhibiting effect. Cysteine and homocysteine both stimulated the lipid peroxidation even in the absence of ascorbate. 3. The added GSH disappeared at nearly the same rate in the presence of fresh and of boiled particles to which ascorbate had been added, although considerably more malonaldehyde was formed in the boiled particles. In the absence of ascorbate little GSH disappeared. 4. It is suggested that the protective effect of GSH against lipid peroxidation depends on the preservation of heat-labile structures in the microsomal fraction and mitochondria.