Effects of vitamin E deficiency and nitrogen dioxide exposure on lung lipid peroxidation: Use of lipid epoxides and malonaldehyde as measures of peroxidation

Abstract

The effect of vitamin E deficiency in male Sprague‐Dawley rats upon lipid peroxidation in lung tissue was examined by measuring malonaldehyde and lipid epoxide production. In addition to controls, some animals were also exposed to 3 ± 0.7 ppm NO₂ continuously for 7 d in order to study the effects of oxidant stress on lung lipid peroxidation and vitamin E content. The observed changes in malonaldehyde and epoxide content could serve as good indices of lipid peroxidation, particularly under conditions of vitamin E deprivation. The responses measured indicated an inverse relation in the lung between tissue vitamin E content and quantity of lipid peroxidation products. Measurement of lipid epoxides served as a reliable indicator of lung tissue lipid peroxidation. Finally, NO₂ inhalation appeared to elicit a response characterized by increased assimilation of vitamin E into lung tissue.