Effect of clofibrate treatment on lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions

1. A study was made of the effect of hypolipidemic drug clofibrate on the level of lipid peroxidation in homogenates and subcellular fractions of rat liver. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. It was shown that under the action of clofibrate the levels of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-, as well as t-butyl hydroperoxide (Bu'OOH)-induced lipid peroxidation were decreased in the whole and "post-nuclear" liver homogenates. Dilution of the homogenates prevented depressing effect of clofibrate on lipid peroxidation. 3. Clofibrate significantly decreased the level of the Bu'OOH-dependent lipid peroxidation, but did not affect the activity of the Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced reaction in rat liver mitochondria and microsomes. 4. Peroxidative alteration of membrane lipids in vivo was evaluated by determining the extent of conjugated dienes formation (absorption at 233 nm). It was shown that clofibrate did not increase the level of ultraviolet absorption of lipids from rat liver subcellular fractions. 5. The data obtained indicate that cytosol from the clofibrate treated rat liver contains a factor(s) which prevents lipid peroxidation in the mitochondria and microsomes.     

Effect of chronic ethanol treatment on the t-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver

1. The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the level of the t-butyl hydroperoxide (Bu'OOH)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. It was shown that under the action of ethanol the rate of lipid peroxidation was decreased in the whole and "postnuclear" liver homogenates. 3. Ethanol significantly decreased the intensity of lipid peroxidation in microsomes, but did not affect the Bu'OOH-dependent process in mitochondria. 4. The level of lipid peroxidation was reduced after incubation of the total particulate fraction (mitochondria plus microsomes) with the undialysed cytosol from ethanol-treated rat liver. Dialysis of the cytosol prevented depressive effect of ethanol treatment on lipid peroxidation. 5. Reduced glutathione (0.1-1.0 mM) was shown to decrease the rate of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, but did not affect its level in mitochondria. 6. Pyrazole injections to rats reduced and phenobarbital treatment increased the level of the Bu'OOH-dependent lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes. 7. The data obtained indicate that the Bu'OOH-dependent lipid peroxidation is not an appropriate marker of the ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rat liver cells.     

Effect of chronic ethanol, catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and clofibrate treatment on lipid peroxidation in rat myocardium

1. The effect of chronic alcohol consumption, catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (amino-triazole) and peroxisome proliferator clofibrate on the level of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation has been studied in the rat myocardium. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. Combined us well as separate treatment with ethanol (36% of dietary calories) and aminotriazole caused elevation of the rate of lipid peroxidation in the nuclear-free homogenate or total particulate fraction of the rat heart. The most pronounced effect was noted during combined application of ethanol and aminotriazole. 3. Prolonged clofibrate treatment significantly increased the level of nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation in the rat myocardium. 4. Peroxidative alteration of the myocardial lipids in vivo was evaluated by measurement of conjugated dienes (absorbance at 233 nm). Separate ethanol, aminotriazole or clofibrate treatment did not affect the level of u.v. absorption of lipids from the total particulate fraction. However, when ethanol and aminotriazole were administered simultaneously an increase of conjugated diene formation was observed. 5. The data obtained confirm the hypothesis that ethanol or clofibrate-induced activation of the myocardial lipid peroxidation may be due to the increase of hydrogen peroxide-generating capacity of the heart microperoxisomes.     

Factors in rat liver cytosol, inhibiting chemiluminescence during nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation]

The effect of normal rat liver cytosol on the level of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in the total particulate fraction (mitochondria plus microsomes) has been studied. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was measured using the chemiluminescence technique and by malonic dialdehyde (MDA) production. Dialyzed cytosol significantly decreased the level of chemiluminescence and, to a much lesser extent, the rate of MDA production. Gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column led to the appearance of at least three cytosolic fractions which suppressed the low-level chemiluminescence. These fractions differed from one another by their molecular masses, kinetics of chemiluminescence inhibition and effects on the intensity of MDA production. The putative functional role of antioxidative defence factors from rat liver cytosol is discussed.     

On the role of rat liver cytosol in suppression of low-level chemiluminescence during nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation.

1. The effect of normal rat liver cytosol on the level of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in the total particulate fraction (mitochondria plus microsomes) has been studied. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. 2. Dialysed cytosol significantly decreased the level of chemiluminescence, and to a much lesser extent, the rate of MDA production. 3. Gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column led to appearance of at least three cytosolic fractions which suppressed the low-level chemiluminescence. 4. The discovered components differed from each other by their molecular masses, kinetics of chemiluminescence inhibition and effects on intensity of MDA formation. 5. The putative functional role of antioxidative defence factors from rat liver cytosol is discussed.     

Oxidation of reduced glutathione by subcellular fractions of rat liver

1. A new method was used to diminish the autoxidation of GSH. 2. The oxidation of GSH by liver homogenates was studied with regard to concentration of homogenate, concentration of GSH, time, pH and anaerobiosis. 3. GSH was oxidized by recombinations of the supernatant with microsomes and with mitochondria. Each fraction alone caused little oxidation. 4. Proteins in the supernatant were required to obtain the effect, and low-molecular-weight compounds in the same fraction increased its effect. 5. GSH diminished the formation of malonaldehyde in homogenates. 6. GSH prevented a stimulating effect of the supernatant on the formation of malonaldehyde in microsomes and in mitochondria. 7. The malonaldehyde formation in microsomes together with the supernatant did not start until the concentration of endogenous low-molecular-weight thiols had decreased to a low level. 8. It is suggested that part of the oxidation of GSH in homogenates is coupled to a mechanism that counteracts the peroxidation of membrane lipids.     

Non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of microsomes and mitochondria isolated from liver and heart of pigeon and rat

Studies were carried out to determine the level of ascorbate-Fe2+ dependent lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes isolated from liver and heart of rat and pigeon. Measurements of chemiluminescence indicate that the lipid peroxidation process was more effective in mitochondria and microsomes from rat liver than in the same organelles obtained from pigeon. In both mitochondria and microsomes from liver of both species a significant decrease of arachidonic acid was observed during peroxidation. The rate C18:2 n6/C20:4 n6 was 4.5 times higher in pigeon than in rat liver. This observation can explain the differences noted when light emission and unsaturation index of both species were analysed. A significant decrease of C18:2 n6 and C20:4 n6 in pigeon liver mitochondria was observed when compared with native organelles whereas in pigeon liver microsomes only C20:4 n6 diminished. In rat liver mitochondria only arachidonic acid C20:4 n6 showed a significant decrease whereas in rat liver microsomes C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3 decreased significantly. However changes were not observed in the fatty acid profile of mitochondria and microsomes isolated from pigeon heart. In the heart under our peroxidation conditions the fatty acid profile does not appear to be responsible for the different susceptibility to the lipid peroxidation process. The lack of a relationship between fatty acid unsaturation and sensitivity to peroxidation observed in heart suggest that other factor/s may be involved in the protection to lipid peroxidation in microsomes and mitochondria isolated from heart.     

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.     

Effect of seminal plasma antioxidant on lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa, mitochondria and microsomes

Seminal plasma antioxidant inhibited ascorbate/iron-induced lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa, brain and liver mitochondria. The concentration required to produce inhibition in brain and liver mitochondria was high. Denaturation of spermatozoa resulted in complete loss of antioxidant action. Maintenance of native structure was essential for action of seminal plasma antioxidant in spermatozoal lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant inhibited NADPH, Fe3+-ADP induced lipid peroxidation in microsomes and consequences of lipid peroxidation such as glucose-6-phosphatase inactivation were prevented by presence of antioxidant. It did not inhibit microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbate and iron and xanthine-xanthine oxidase.     

The effect of alpha-tocopherol on the lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes obtained from rat liver and testis.

The effect of intraperitoneal administration of alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg wt/24 h) on ascorbate (0.4 mM) induced lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes isolated from rat liver and testis was studied. Special attention was paid to the changes produced on the highly polyunsaturated fatty acids C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3 in liver and C20:4 n6 and C22:5 n6 in testis. The lipid peroxidation of liver mitochondria or microsomes produced a significant decrease of C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3 in the control group, whereas changes in the fatty acid composition of the alpha-tocopherol treated group were not observed. The light emission was significantly higher in the control than in the alpha-tocopherol treated group. The lipid peroxidation of testis microsomes isolated from the alpha-tocopherol group produced a significant decrease of C20:4 n6 , C22:5 n6 and C22:6 n3, these changes were not observed in testis mitochondria. The light emission of both groups was similar. The treatment with alpha-tocopherol at the dose and times indicated showed a protector effect on the polyunsaturated fatty acids of liver mitochondria, microsomes and testis mitochondria, whereas those fatty acids situated in testis microsomes were not protected during non enzymatic ascorbate-Fe2+ lipid peroxidation. The protector effect observed by alpha-tocopherol treatment in the fatty acid composition of rat testis mitochondria but not in microsomes could be explained if we consider that the sum of C20:4 n6 + C22:5 n6 in testis microsomes is 2-fold than that present in mitochondria.     

Lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and microsomes from adult and fetal rat tissues

Pregnant female Wistar rats that received a control (100 ppm Zn) or a Zn-deficient diet (1.5 ppm Zn) from d 0 to 21, or nonpregnant normally fed female rats without or with five daily oral doses of 300 mg/kg salicylic acid were used for the experiments. In isolated mitochondria or microsomes from various maternal and fetal tissues, lipid peroxidation was determined as malondialdehyde formation measured by means of the thiobarbiturate method. Zn deficiency increased lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and microsomes from maternal and fetal liver, maternal kidney, maternal lung microsomes, and fetal lung mitochondria. Lipid peroxidation in fetal microsomes was very low. Zn deficiency produced a further reduction of lipid peroxidation in fetal liver microsomes. Salicylate increased lipid peroxidation in liver mitochondria and microsomes after addition in vitro and after application in vivo. The increase of lipid peroxidation by salicylate may be caused by two mechanisms: an increased cellular Fe uptake that, in turn, can increase lipid peroxidation and chelating Fe, in analogy to the effect of ADP in lipid peroxidation. The latter effect of salicylate is particularly expressed at increased Fe content.     

A possible mechanism for the peroxidation of lipids due to chronic ethanol ingestion.

The effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on NADPH-oxidase and on the NADPH-catalyzed peroxidation of lipids in rat liver microsomes have been studied. It was demonstrated that the rates of NADPH oxidation, of oxygen consumption, and of malondialdehyde formation increased significantly above control values after one month of ethanol ingestion. Further, the fatty acid composition of these microsomes revealed a decrease in arachidonate and in the C22 polyenes. Also, the energies of activation for the formation of malondialdehyde increased in the microsomes from the ethanol-treated animals. These results were interpreted to mean that ethanol ingestion had induced changes in the microsomal membranes such that additional or alternate, possibly abnormal, pathways for lipid peroxidation were functional. Finally, these data suggest a mechanism whereby chronic ethanol ingestion inhances the production of lipid peroxides via the microsomal-catalyzed oxidation of NADPH.     

Lipid peroxidation in rat uterus

Lipid peroxidation in rat uterus has been studied using NADPH- and ascorbate-induced systems. Lipid peroxidation in rat uterus is low as compared to rat liver. Uterus is more sensitive to ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation than that induced by NADPH. Uterus contains lower amounts of phospholipids and has a lesser degree of unsaturation in lipids. Co-factor studies show that Fe2+ is more important for ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation. Endometrium is more sensitive to ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation than myometrium. It also contains more total lipids and phospholipids besides having a higher degree of unsaturation in the lipids as compared to myometrium. Among the subcellular fractions, mitochondria are more prone to ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation, whereas microsomes are more sensitive to NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation. Uteri from old rats (24 months) and pregnant rats are more resistant to lipid peroxidation than those from 3-month-old control rats. Uterus of pregnant rats contains more factors which inhibit lipid peroxidation and also has a lesser degree of unsaturation in lipids compared with uterus of control rats. The possible consequences of the resistance of uterus to lipid peroxidation, especially during pregnancy and senescence, are discussed.     

A low degree of fatty acid unsaturation leads to high resistance to lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and microsomes of different organs of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Birds – particularly long-lived species – have special adaptations for preventing tissue damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The objective of the present study was to analyse the fatty acid composition and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes obtained from liver, heart and brain of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), a short-lived bird. Fatty acids located in total lipids of rat liver, heart and brain mitochondria and microsomes were determined using gas chromatography and lipid peroxidation was evaluated using a chemiluminescence assay. The unsaturated fatty acid content found in mitochondria and microsomes of all tissue examined was approximately 50 and 40%, respectively with a prevalence of C18:1 n9. The C18:2 n6 content in brain mitochondria was significantly lower as compared to liver and heart mitochondria. Whereas the C20:4 n6 content in mitochondria from all tissues examined and brain microsomes was approximately 6%, liver and heart microsomes exhibited lower values. C22:6 n3 was absent in liver mitochondria, very low content in liver microsomes and heart organelles (between 0.5 and 1%) and high content in brain organelles, with mitochondria having the highest value (11%). Whereas liver and heart organelles were not affected when subjected to lipid peroxidation, brain mitochondria were highly affected, as indicated by the increase in chemiluminescence and a considerable decrease of C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3. These results indicate that a low degree of fatty acid unsaturation in liver and heart organelles of quail, a short-lived bird, may confer advantage by decreasing their sensitivity to lipid peroxidation process.     

The effect of alpha-tocopherol on lipid peroxidation of microsomes and mitochondria from rat testis

The testis is a remarkably active metabolic organ; hence it is suitable not only for studies of lipid metabolism in the organ itself but also for the study of lipid peroxidation processes in general. The content of fatty acids in testis is high with a prevalence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which renders this tissue very susceptible to lipid peroxidation. Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of alpha-tocopherol in vitro on ascorbate-Fe(++) lipid peroxidation of rat testis microsomes and mitochondria. Chemiluminescence and fatty acid composition were used as an index of the oxidative destruction of lipids. Special attention was paid to the changes produced on the highly PUFA [C20:4 n6] and [C22:5 n6]. Lipid peroxidation of testis microsomes or mitochondria induced a significant decrease of both fatty acids. Total chemiluminescence was similar in both kinds of organelles when the peroxidized without (control) and with ascorbate-Fe(++) (peroxidized) groups were compared. Arachidonic acid was protected more efficiently than docosapentaenoic acid at all alpha-tocopherol concentrations tested when rat testis microsomes or mitochondria were incubated with ascorbate-Fe(++). The maximal percentage of inhibition in both organelles was approximately 70%; corresponding to an alpha-tocopherol concentration between 1 and 0.25 mM. IC50 values from the inhibition of alpha-tocopherol on the chemiluminescence were higher in microsomes (0.144 mM) than mitochondria (0.078 mM). The protective effect observed by alpha-tocopherol in rat testis mitochondria was higher compared with microsomes, associated with the higher amount of [C20:4 n6]+[C22:5 n6] in microsomes that in mitochondria. It is proposed that the vulnerability to lipid peroxidation of rat testis microsomes and mitochondria is different because of the different proportion of PUFA in these organelles The peroxidizability index (PI) was positively correlated with the level of long chain fatty acids. The results demonstrated the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol on lipid peroxidation in microsomes and mitochondria from rat testis.     

Ethanol-Induced Oxygen Radical Formation and Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain: Effect of Chronic Alcohol Consumption

Abstract: The effect of chronic and in vitro ethanol exposure on brain oxygen radical formation and lipid peroxidation was analyzed. Ethanol induces a dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates. The peroxidative effects of alcohol seem to be related to both cytochrome P450 and the ethanol-inducible form of cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), because preincubation with metyrapone (an inhibitor of cytochrome P450) or with an antibody against CYP2E1 abolished the ethanol-increased lipid peroxidation. Using the formation of dichlorofluorescein, we also demonstrated that both in vitro and chronic alcohol exposure significantly enhanced the formation of oxygen radical species in synaptosomes. Chronic alcohol treatment also leads to an induction of cytochrome P450 (230%), NADPH cytochrome c reductase (180%), NADPH oxidation (184%), and CYP2E1 in brain microsomes. In addition, this treatment produced a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio in brain and significantly enhanced the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. This mechanism could be involved in the toxic effects of ethanol on brain and membrane alterations occurring after chronic ethanol intake.     

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.     

Oxygen reduction and lipid peroxidation by iron chelates with special reference to ferric nitrilotriacetate

A certain iron chelate, ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe3+-NTA) is nephrotoxic and also carcinogenic to the kidney in mice and rats, a distinguishing feature not shared by other iron chelates tested so far. Iron-promoted lipid peroxidation is thought to be responsible for the initial events. We examined its ability to initiate lipid peroxidation in vitro in comparison with that of other ferric chelates. Chelation of Fe2+ by nitrilotriacetate (NTA) enhanced the autoxidation of Fe2+. In the presence of Fe2+-NTA, lipid peroxidation occurred as measured by the formation of conjugated diene in detergent-dispersed linoleate micelles, and by the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the liposomes of rat liver microsomal lipids. Addition of ascorbic acid to Fe3+-NTA solution promoted dose-dependent consumption of dissolved oxygen, which indicates temporary reduction of iron. On reduction, Fe3+-NTA initiated lipid peroxidation both in the linoleate micelles and in the liposomes. Fe3+-NTA also initiated NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Although other chelators used (deferoxamine, EDTA, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, ADP) enhanced autoxidation, reduction by ascorbic acid, or in vitro lipid peroxidation of linoleate micelles or liposomal lipids, NTA was the sole chelator that enhanced all the reactions.     

pH-Dependent Fe (II) pathophysiology and protective effect of an organoselenium compound

Influence of pH on the extent of lipid peroxidation and the anti-oxidant potential of an organoselenium compound is explored. Acidosis increased the rate of lipid peroxidation both in the absence and presence of Fe (II) in rat’s brain, kidney and liver homogenate and phospholipids extract from egg yolk. The organoselenium compound significantly protected lipids from peroxidation, both in the absence and presence of Fe (II). Changing the pH of the reaction medium did not alter the anti-oxidant activity of the tested compound. This study provides in vitro evidence for acidosis-induced oxidative stress in brain, kidney, liver homogenate and phospholipids extract and the anti-oxidant action of the tested organoselenium compound.     

Comparison of human and rat liver microsomes by spin label and biochemical analyses

Detailed lipid analyses of human and rat liver microsomes revealed interesting differences. It was found that human liver microsomes contain twice as much lipid as those from the rat. This increased lipid content is not associated with an increase in content of a particular lipid class; human liver microsomes contain higher amounts of each of the lipid classes. Human and rat liver microsomes differ especially in the essential fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids: human liver microsomes contain more linoleic acid and less arachidonic acid than those of the rat. Such a pattern of distribution of fatty acids is similar to that previously reported for human liver mitochondria and has not been reported for other species. Although the previously reported for human liver mitochondria and has not been reported for other species. Although the unsaturation of lipids is lower in human than in rat liver microsomes, spin label studies revealed a higher fluidity in human membranes. It is suggested that this might arise from a lesser immobilization of lipids by proteins in human liver subcellular membranes.