A comparative evaluation of thiobarbituric acid methods for the determination of malondialdehyde in biological materials

Increased oxidative stress in patients with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVES

We sought to study the markers of lipid peroxidation and defenses against oxidative stress in patients with varying degrees of heart failure.

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in other areas of cardiovascular disease, the morbidity and mortality from congestive heart failure (CHF) are increasing. Data mainly from animal models suggest that free radical injury may promote myocardial decompensation. However, there are no studies in humans correlating the severity of heart failure with increased free radical injury and antioxidants.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients with CHF and 19 control subjects were studied. In addition to complete clinical and echocardiographic evaluations, the prognosis of these patients was established by measuring the levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors 1 and 2 (sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2). Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring plasma lipid peroxides (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and vitamin E and C levels.

RESULTS

The patients' age range, cause of heart failure and drug intake were comparable across the different classes of heart failure. Heart failure resulted in a significant increase in LPO (p < 0.005), MDA (p < 0.005), sTNF-R1 (p < 0.005) and sTNF-R2 (p < 0.005). There was a significant positive correlation between the clinical class of heart failure and LPO, MDA, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 levels. There was an inverse correlation between GSHPx and LPO. With increased lipid peroxidation in patients with CHF, the levels of vitamin C decreased, but vitamin E levels were maintained.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate a progressive increase in free radical injury and encroachment on antioxidant reserves with the evolution of heart failure; they also suggest that oxidative stress may be an important determinant of prognosis. The therapeutic benefit of administering antioxidant supplements to patients with CHF should be evaluated.

Clinical and biochemical determinants of plasma lipid peroxide levels in type 2 diabetes

The enhanced risk and increased severity of atheroma in diabetes is well recognized but, as yet, incompletely explained. A cross-sectional study of vascular disease risk factors in a group of type 2 diabetic patients from South West Scotland has revealed an association between glycaemic control, assessed by HbAl level and plasma lipid peroxides measured by a specific high-performance liquid chromatography method. Duration of diabetes appeared to be a subsidiary contributor to lipid peroxidation. We suggest this evidence supports the importance of glycaemic control in modulating glyco-oxidative mechanisms probably crucial to production of diabetic complications. Atherosclerosis prevention in diabetes may hinge on exemplary simultaneous control of both hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia.

Hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment attenuates hepatic reperfusion injury

Microcirculatory derangement, energy depletion and lipid peroxidation have been related to development of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the liver. This study investigates the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Three groups were evaluated: 1) sham-operated control (laparotomy only, no ischemia, no HBO), n=8; 2) ischemia control (1-h ischemia, 2-h reperfusion, no HBO), n=8; and 3) HBO pretreatment (100%, oxygen, 2.5 atm absolute, 90 min) plus ischemia (1-h ischemia, 2-h reperfusion), n=8. An in vivo microscope was used to investigate hepatic microcirculation. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were determined. In comparison with the ischemia control group, HBO significantly improved harmful insults following ischemia-reperfusion. HBO lessened adherent leukocyte count (6.00+/-1.31 cells/200 microm vs 11.38+/-2.88 cells/200 microm), and improved flow velocity (1.72+/-0.26 mm/s vs 0.83+/-0.19 mm/s) in post-sinusoidal venules. HBO also reduced MDA (1.04+/-0.24 nmol/mg protein vs 2.24+/-0.49 micromol/g protein), and increased ATP (2.03+/-0.17 micromol/g wet wt vs 0.73+/-0.11 micromol/g wet wt) levels. This study demonstrates that HBO before ischemia may ameliorate the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver in the rat model.

Physical exercise, oxidative stress and muscle damage in racehorses

Since it has been suggested that lipid peroxidation following free radical overproduction may be one of the causes of physical exercise-induced myopathies and hemolysis in horses, we looked for the possible relationships between these phenomena and muscle fiber damage. We use a homogeneous group of Maremmana stallions which, after a 3-month training period, underwent a series of physical exercises of increasing intensity. We determined the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), one of the main lipid peroxidation end-products, and glutathione the substrate of one of the most important free radical scavenger enzymes. We also measured creatine phosphokinase and serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme activities whose modification may be indicative of muscle fiber damage. The results obtained indicated that the physical exercise we adopted was able to modify both MDA and glutathione contents in blood. However, its effect on some LDH isoenzyme activities suggested possible damage to tissues other than muscle.

Peroxidative and glutathione status in uterus and placenta after normal and pathological pregnancy

In 10 women with disturbed pregnancies without hypertension, reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) as well as lipid peroxides as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined in the placenta and in the uterine tissue after unexpected stress-induced Caesarian section (group II). Production of TBARS was also measured in vitro in the 9000 x g supernatant of both tissues. The results were compared with those from women after normal pregnancy and expected Caesarian section (group I). After normal pregnancy higher TBARS and lower GSH with higher GSSG/GSH ratio were found in the placenta in comparison to the uterine tissue, indicating an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in the placenta. No statistically significant differences were shown between the parameters of groups I and II. The possible oxidant stress associated with disturbed pregnancy and subsequent unexpected Caesarian section in this study was insufficient to alter tissue levels of glutathione nor the peroxidative status of placenta and uterus.

Simultaneous determination of eight lipid peroxidation degradation products in urine of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride using gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

One of the major processes that occur as a result of radical-induced oxidative stress is lipid peroxidation (LPO). Degradation of lipid peroxides results in various products, including a variety of carbonyl compounds. In the present study eight different lipid degradation products, i.e., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal and malondialdehyde were identified and measured simultaneously and quantitatively in rat urine after derivatization with O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorbenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride, extraction with heptane and using gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The identity of the respective oximes in urine was confirmed by gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS). Simultaneously measured standard curves were linear for all oxime-products and the detection limits were between 39.0 +/- 5.3 (n=9) and 500 +/- 23 (n=9) fmol per microl injected sample. Recoveries of all products from urine or water were 73.0 +/- 5.2% and higher. In urine of CCl4-treated rats an increase in all eight lipid degradation products in urine was found 24 h following exposure. ACON showed the most distinct increase, followed by PROPA, BUTA and MDA. It is concluded that the rapid, selective and sensitive analytical method based on GC-ECD presented here is well suited for routine measurement of eight different lipid degradation products. These products appear to be useful as non-invasive biomarkers for in vivo oxidative stress induced in rats by CCl4.

Evaluation of extracellular lipid peroxidation in brain cortex of anaesthetized rats by microdialysis perfusion and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A method for in vivo evaluation of lipid peroxidation in the extracellular space of anaesthetized rat brain cortex was developed. This method involved the use of microdialysis perfusion and high-performance liquid chromatography. The microdialysates, eluted from implanted probes, were reacted with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) prior to analysis by an HPLC system equipped with a fluorescence detector (excitation and emission wavelengths were 515 and 550 nm, respectively). Lipid peroxidation in the extracellular space was evaluated as the concentration of malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxidation end product which reacts with TBA to form a fluorescent conjugate. Significantly increased production of malondialdehyde following hydrogen peroxide perfusion (0.03%, 0.3% at a flow-rate of 1 microl/min) was observed in the brain cortex of anaesthetized rats.

Liver and colon oxidant status in growing rats fed increasing levels of dietary iron

A study with four groups, each with 9 individually-housed, male albino rats (clinical average weight = 65 g), was undertaken to examine the effect of increasing dietary iron levels on the oxidant status in liver and colon of growing rats. The basal maize/soya diet contained 70 mg iron per kg and was supplemented with 200 (group II), 500 (group III) and 2000 (group IV) mg Fe/kg from iron (II) fumarate. Liver-Fe was closely correlated (r = 0.997) with dietary Fe intake. Feeding diets supplemented with 500 and 2000 mg Fe/kg over 28 days resulted in significantly elevated TBA-RS in liver homogenates. Vitamin E in the liver was about 20% lower in group IV compared to the controls. Liver SOD, G6PDH and CAT activities were not influenced by dietary iron, whereas liver GSHPx was decreased in groups III and IV. TBA-RS in the colon mucosa significantly increased only at a dietary iron supply of 2000 mg per kg. Iron-enriched diets caused a moderate dose-dependent enhancement in the concentration of methane sulfinic acid in feces samples, which was formed by the reaction of hydroxyl radicals and dimethyl sulfoxide. Liver was more sensitive than the colon mucosa to iron-induced lipid peroxidation. Compared with the recommended iron requirements of growing rats very high dietary iron levels were necessary to induce oxidative stress.

Dose-related preventive and therapeutic effects of antioxidants-anticarcinogens on experimentally induced malignant tumors in Wistar rats

A combination of antioxidants-anticarcinogens, consisting of vitamins C and E, selenium and 2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (2-MPG), was administered orally for the prevention (PRG) and treatment (TRG) of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced malignant tumors (leiomyosarcomas), in Wistar rats. In order to evaluate dose-related effects, a low dose vitamin (0.15 g/kg b.w. per day of vit.C and 0.05 g/kg b.w. per day of vit.E) and a high dose (1.5 g/kg b.w. per day of vit.C and 0.5 g/kg b.w. per day of vit.E) combination was administered, in prevention and treatment groups. Selenium was administered in doses of 2 microg/kg b.w. per day and 2-MPG in 15 mg/kg b.w. per day, in all groups. Daily estimations of 24 h urine volume levels of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (MDA) were performed in 20 animals, divided into a control group, a BaP-injected group, a tricapryline-injected group and a BaP-injected and treated by the low dose combination group. Results revealed that the low dose combination failed to exert any beneficial effect on mean survival time of animals treated either preventitively or therapeutically. An increased number of animals bearing a second (lung) tumor was, in addition, found in autopsy and histological examination in the low dose combination (PRG and TRG) and the high dose TRG groups. The high dose combination groups manifested a significant prolongation of the mean survival time of animals; complete remission of tumors developed in 16.8% of the animals in the treatment group and a 5.2% prevention of tumor formation in the preventive group, without any evidence of an increased number of double tumor formation in the PRG group. Urine MDA increased significantly in animals injected by BaP during the first 10 days and since the 90th day (formation of palpable tumors) after injection, in relation to control and tricapryline-injected groups. Complete prevention of urine MDA-increased values was obtained in BaP-injected and treated by the low dose combination animals. Results indicate that high doses (megadoses) of the antioxidant-anticarcinogen vitamins C and E in combination with carefully selected other antioxidants possessing supplementary actions, are probably needed in order to achieve a sufficient prevention and treatment of malignant diseases.

Lipid peroxidation during n-3 fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation in humans

The purpose of this study was to investigate in healthy humans the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake, alone or in combination with dL-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) supplements on lipid peroxidation. Eighty men were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to take daily for 6 wk either menhaden oil (6.26 g, n-3 fatty acids) or olive oil supplements with either vitamin E (900 IU) or its placebo. Antioxidant vitamins, phospholipid composition, malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipid peroxides were measured in the plasma at baseline and week 6. At the same time, breath alkane output was measured. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration increased in those receiving vitamin E (P < 0.0001). In those supplemented with n-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA increased in plasma phospholipids (P < 0.0001) and plasma MDA and lipid peroxides increased (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Breath alkane output did not change significantly and vitamin E intake did not prevent the increase in lipid peroxidation during menhaden oil supplementation. The results demonstrate that supplementing the diet with n-3 fatty acids resulted in an increase in lipid peroxidation, as measured by plasma MDA release and lipid peroxide products, which was not suppressed by vitamin E supplementation.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibits a yAP-1-mediated adaptive response to malondialdehyde

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a highly reactive aldehyde generally formed as a consequence of lipid peroxidation. MDA has been inferred to have mutagenic and cytotoxic roles and possibly to be a participant in the onset of atherosclerosis. Wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae acquires resistance to a lethal dose (5 mM) of MDA following prior exposure to a nonlethal concentration (1 mM). This response was completely inhibited by cycloheximide (50 microg ml(-1)), indicating a requirement for protein synthesis for adaptation. Furthermore, we have examined the roles of glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial function, and yAP-1-mediated transcription in conferring resistance and adaptation to MDA. A yap1 disruption mutant exhibited the greatest sensitivity and was unable to adapt to MDA, implicating yAP-1 in both the adaptive response and constitutive survival. The effect of MDA on GSH mutants indicated a role for GSH in initial resistance, whereas resistance acquired through adaptation was independent of GSH. Likewise, respiratory mutants (petite mutants) were sensitive to MDA but were still able to mount an adaptive response similar to that of the wild type, excluding mitochondria from any role in adaptation. MDA was detected in yeast cells by the thiobarbituric acid test and subsequent high-pressure liquid chromatography separation. Elevated levels were detected following treatment with hydrogen peroxide. However, the MDA-adaptive response was independent of that to H2O2.

Measurement of aldehydes in low density lipoprotein by high performance liquid chromatography

A modified procedure is presented for the HPLC determination of nanomolar concentrations of n-alkanals, hydroxyalkenals, malondialdehyde and furfural in biological fluid. The modifications allow aldehyde profile analysis of small samples of fresh, human, low density lipoprotein (LDL), enabling more detailed studies of LDL fatty acid peroxidation. Aldehydes are reacted with 1,3-cyclohexanedione to produce fluorescent derivatives which are separated by gradient, reversed phase, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Analysis time has been reduced by shortening the sample preparation. Sensitivity has been increased by miniaturization of the derivatisation procedure, reducing required sample size. Recoveries of added aldehydes have been improved. In addition, the method presented allows determination of three further aldehydes, not measured previously by CHD methods: malondialdehyde, formaldehyde and furfural. Recovery and variability data and concentrations of aldehydes found in human LDL are given. The capacity of the method for further development, to enable determination of other aldehydes such as the trans, 2-alkenals, is also demonstrated.

Influence of vitamins E and C on the toxic effects of ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in chicks

The objective of this study was to determine whether two antioxidant vitamins, vitamins E and C, were able to counteract the production of lipid peroxides and the corresponding toxic signs of two important but diverse mycotoxins, T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A (OA). Experiment 1 was designed in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement using three doses of vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) in the diet of Leghorn cockerels (required level according to NRC, 10x, and 100x requirements) and three toxin treatment [no toxin (Diets 1, 2, and 3), 4 mg T-2/kg of diet (Diets 4, 5, and 6), and 2.5 mg OA/kg of diet (Diets 7, 8, and 9)]. The experimental design for Experiment 2 was the same as for Experiment 1 except that Vitamin C (0, 200, and 1,000 mg/kg of diet) was used in place of vitamin E and the concentration of T-2 in Diets 4, 5, and 6 was increased to 5 mg/kg of diet. Six replicates were used per treatment with four birds per replicate. In both experiments, OA and T-2 decreased the performance of the chicks significantly. The concentration of uric acid in the plasma increased (P < 0.001) when OA was added to the diet, whereas the supplementation of the diet with vitamin E (100x the requirement) partially counteracted this effect (P = 0.07). The presence of T-2, and especially OA, in the diet decreased the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in the liver (P < 0.001). Consistent with these findings were increased values of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver due to OA. In Experiment 1, vitamin E supplementation partially ameliorated the prooxidative effects of OA by decreasing the concentrations of MDA (P < 0.05). These data suggest that lipid peroxides are formed in vivo by T-2 and especially by OA and that these effects can be partially counteracted by an antioxidant such as vitamin E but not by vitamin C.

Effect of 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid on nephrosclerosis in the Dahl rat. I. Role of reactive oxygen species

2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), a sulfhydryl-containing chelator, has previously been shown to reduce mean blood pressure in lead-treated rats. In the present study we have demonstrated that DMSA (0.5% for 5 days every 2 weeks) also reduces mean blood pressure in the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat. Six-week-old Dahl SS and salt resistant (SR) rats were placed on a 0.3% NaCl diet for two weeks, followed by an 8% NaCl diet for four weeks. Eight SS and 8 SR rats remained untreated while 8 SS and 8 SR rats were treated with DMSA. DMSA treatment ameliorated the mean blood pressure rise in the Dahl SS rats (141 +/- 5 vs. 120 +/- 4 mm Hg at 6 weeks, P < 0.001). Nephrosclerosis was severe in untreated SS rats but absent in treated SS rats as well as in both treated and untreated SR rats. Reactive oxygen species formation, as assessed by kidney cortex content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and immunohistochemical demonstration of nitrotyrosine (a byproduct of peroxynitrite) in interlobular arteries, was increased in Dahl SS rats, but abolished by DMSA (MDA 9.65 +/- 0.33 nmol/g wet wt, untreated SS, vs. 6.46 +/- 0.51, treated SS, P < 0.001). The anti-nephrosclerotic action of DMSA was clearly disproportionate to the reduction in blood pressure. We conclude that the effect of DMSA was related instead to the reactive oxygen species scavenging properties of the thiol groups.

Vitamin E decreases urine lipid peroxidation products in young healthy human volunteers under normal conditions

An experimental study on the effects of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins on urine lipid peroxidation products was performed in 21 young healthy men. The subjects ingested placebo, 1 g of vitamin C, or 100 mg of vitamin E per day just after the midday meal during 30 days. Urine samples were obtained 0, 15 and 30 days after the beginning of the study. These samples were analyzed by spectrophotometry or fluorometry after reaction with thiobarbituric acid. Prescan fluorometric studies of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in both malondialdehyde standards and urine samples indicated 503 nm and 548 nm as optimum excitation and emission wavelengths. The fluorescence measurements proved to be superior both in terms of selectivity and capacity of detection of antioxidant effects in relation to spectrophotometry. Identical emission peaks were obtained with malondialdehyde standards and urine samples, showing the specificity of the fluorometric method. When measured by fluorometry, the urine of the subjects supplemented with vitamin E showed significantly and progressively smaller lipid peroxidation products as the time of supplementation increased, reaching a 27% decrease at the end of the longitudinal trial. The results indicate the usefulness of the fluorescent measurement of urine thiobarbituric acid reactive substances to easily and rapidly detect variations in whole body oxidative stress in humans. They also show the capacity of safe vitamin E dietary doses to decrease endogenous oxidative stress in healthy humans routinely performing their normal activities.

Quinacrine attenuates cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The biochemical mechanism underlying cyclosporine (CsA)* induced nephrotoxicity is far from clear. Increased generation of oxygen derived free radicals (ODFR) and enhanced activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) have been observed in experimental animals following treatment with CsA. Several recent reports have shown that quinacrine, besides being a potent inhibitor of PLA2, suppresses the generation of ODFR. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of quinacrine on CsA induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats (weighing 280-300 g) were randomized into eight groups of eight animals each. Group 1 (control) received appropriate vehicles only, whereas the rats in groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received subcutaneous injection of CsA (17.5 mg/kg dissolved in olive oil) daily for 8 weeks. The animals in groups 3, 4, and 5 were also given intraperitoneal injections of quinacrine in three different doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in addition to CsA. The animals in groups 6, 7, and 8 received intraperitoneal injection of quinacrine alone at doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg respectively for eight weeks. After 8 weeks, animals were sacrificed under light ether anesthesia and blood and kidney samples were collected for various biochemical and histological studies. The biochemical parameters included blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), potassium, and sodium. The blood was also analyzed for the level of CsA. The kidney samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, and vitamin E (VE). Kidney sections were prepared for histopathological studies using hematoxylin-eosin staining. There was an increase in BUN, Scr, and potassium levels and decrease in sodium levels in cyclosporine alone treated group, suggesting a significant nephrotoxicity. Quinacrine treatment significantly protected animals against CsA induced biochemical changes. Our studies on free radical indices showed that quinacrine treatment protected animals against cyclosporine induced increase in MDA and depletion of glutathione and VE. The beneficial effect of quinacrine against CsA induced nephrotoxicity was also confirmed by histological studies.

Diisopropylphosphorofluoridate-induced muscle hyperactivity associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation in vivo

Acute exposure to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors such as organophosphates and carbamates induces functional changes at the neuromuscular junctions, leading to fasciculations that ultimately cause muscle fiber necrosis. There is recent evidence that oxygen free radical formation may be a factor in the toxicity of these insecticides. One of the targets of free radical-induced injury is lipid peroxidation. The role of lipid peroxidation in diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP)-induced muscle necrosis was investigated by quantifying two products resulting from the oxidation of lipids in muscle tissue-the thiobarbituric acid-malondialdehyde complex (TBA-MDA) and F2-isoprostanes, the latter being a novel and extremely accurate marker of lipid peroxidation in vivo. When compared with control animals, significant increases in MDA of 96% and in F2-isoprostanes of 56% were found in the diaphragms of rats treated with 2.0 mg/kg DFP after 60 min (P < 0.01). In rats pretreated with the neuromuscular blocking agent d-tubocurarine or the lazaroid U-78517F, an antioxidant, no DFP-induced increases in either MDA or F2-isoprostanes were observed. It is suggested that the AChE inhibitor-induced cholinergic hyperactivity initiates that accumulation of free radicals leading to lipid peroxidation, which may be the initiator of the AChE inhibitor-induced cell injury.

N-actylcysteine protects Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from lead-induced oxidative stress

In vitro administration of lead acetate (PbA) to cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on colony formation. Colony formation was returned to control levels in lead-treated cultures that were supplemented with 1 mM N-actylcysteine (NAC), a well-documented synthetic antioxidant. In order to investigate the nature of NAC's protective effect, we measured L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity both in the presence and absence of NAC in lead-exposed CHO cells. Increases in both MDA levels (p < 0.05) and catalase activity (P < 0.05) were observed in cultures that received only PbA, but supplementation with NAC returned these measures to pretreatment levels. The ratio of GSH to GSSG increased in lead-exposed cells incubated in NAC-enhanced media, but declined in cultures treated with PbA only. Our results suggest that NAC can confer protection against lead-induced oxidative stress to CHO cells, possibly through the enhancement of the cell's own antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Amphiphilic alpha-tocopherol analogues as inhibitors of brain lipid peroxidation

Neurological disorders, such as stroke, trauma, tardive dyskinesia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, may be partially attributed to excessive exposition of the nervous tissue to oxygen-derived radicals. A novel water-soluble alpha-tocopherol analogue, 2,3-dihydro-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-3-(4-methylpiperazino) methyl-1-benzofuran-5-ol dihydrochloride (MDL), is a potent radical scavenger. Following subcutaneous administration to mice, MDL inhibited the lipid peroxidation induced in the 100-fold diluted brain homogenates, with an ID50 of 8 mg/kg. Rapid brain penetration, within 30-60 min postadministration, and even distribution into different brain areas were observed. MDL was also detected after oral administration. In brain homogenate undergoing lipid peroxidation, MDL prevented the consumption of an equal amount of alpha-tocopherol, while inhibiting the concomitant malondialdehyde formation. The radical scavenging capacity of MDL was superior to that of alpha-tocopherol, although the peak and half-peak potentials were not significantly different. However, MDL was much less lipophilic, the partition coefficient (log P) at the octanol/water interface being 1.91. Although it is yet unknown, whether the applied criteria sufficiently predict its usefulness, beneficial effects of MDL may be expected in the above mentioned disorders.

Benzoyl peroxide cytotoxicity evaluated in vitro with the human keratinocyte cell line, RHEK-1

The human keratinocyte cell line, RHEK-1, was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of benzoyl peroxide (BZP). As determined with the neutral red (NR) cytotoxicity assay, the 24-h midpoint (NR50) toxicity values, in mM, were 0.11 for BZP and 29.5 for benzoic acid, the stable metabolite of BZP. Irreversible cytotoxicity occurred after a 1-h exposure to 0.15 mM BZP and greater. When exposed to BZP for 7 days, a lag in growth kinetics was first observed at 0.06 mM BZP. Damage to the integrity of the plasma membrane was evident, as leakage of lactic acid dehydrogenase occurred during a 4-h exposure to BZP at 0.05 mM and greater. Intracellular membranes were also affected, as extensive vacuolization, initially perinuclear but then spreading throughout the cytoplasm, was noted in BZP-stressed cells. The generation of reactive free radicals from BZP was suggested by the following: the intracellular content of glutathione was lowered in cells exposed to BZP; cells pretreated with the glutathione-depleting agent, chlorodinitrobenzene, were hypersensitive to a subsequent challenge with BZP; lipid peroxidation by BZP was inducible in the presence of Fe2+; and cells previously maintained in a medium amended with vitamin E, an antioxidant, were more resistant to BZP, showed less lipid peroxidation in the presence of BZP+Fe2+ and did not develop the extensive intracellular vacuolization as compared to non-vitamin E maintained cells.

Urinary malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine as potential markers of oxidative stress in industrial art glass workers

Previous epidemiological studies have indicated that industrial art glass workers have increased mortality risks for certain types of cancer and for cardio- and cerebrovascular disease. To test the hypothesis that increased oxidative stress might contribute to these increased mortality risks, the urinary levels of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the oxidative DNA adduct, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) were determined in 343 workers (230 men and 113 women) from the art glass industry in the southeast of Sweden. Of the study subjects, 199 (181 men and 18 women) were engaged in the process of glass production and were regarded as exposed, whereas the remainders performed clerical, warehouse and other service work and were regarded as unexposed. One hundred and sixteen were smokers (75 men and 41 women) and 215 were non-smokers (142 men and 73 women). The findings indicate that (a) exposure to industrial art glass work per se does not cause any major oxidative stress as measured by urinary levels of MDA and 8OHdG, (b) the effects from smoking per se are limited to increased lipid peroxidation among men, and (c) joint exposure to industrial art glass work and smoking may cause increased lipid peroxidation among men and increased DNA hydroxylation among both men and women. While these findings provide no evidence for increased oxidative stress due to industrial art glass work per se, the increased 8OHdG excretion, in workers who smoke may be associated with a higher risk of developing free radical-dependent degenerative diseases including cancer.

Increased plasma lipid peroxidation in patients with aceruloplasminemia

Aceruloplasminemia is a newly recognized autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism due to mutations in the ceruloplasmin gene. Although the presence of these mutations reveals an essential role for ceruloplasmin in human biology, the mechanisms of tissue injury in this disease are unknown. We report here on the identification of increased plasma lipid peroxidation in multiple affected family members with aceruloplasminemia. Consistent with the absence of serum ceruloplasmin, plasma ferroxidase activity was markedly reduced and serum ferritin was significantly increased. Plasma lipid peroxidation was determined as thiobarbituric acid-reactive products (TBA products) in plasma samples from control, heterozygote, and affected patients. Basal levels of lipid peroxides were three times control values in patients with aceruloplasminemia and were significantly increased in these patients in the presence of copper ions and hydrogen peroxide. In each case these increases were suppressed by the addition of exogenous ceruloplasmin. These data suggest that increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation may contribute to the unique neuropathology observed in patients with aceruloplasminemia and imply a role for free radical-mediated tissue injury in degenerative disorders of the basal ganglia.

Characterization of drugs as antioxidant prophylactics

There is growing interest in the evaluation of drugs (prescription only medicines and over-the-counter medicines) as antioxidant prophylactics. Although free radical mechanism in human degenerative diseases is now generally recognised, the mechanisms of tissue injury in humans are very complex and it may not be possible to clearly identify the role played by free radicals in the process. This review examines the current evidence to support the notion that drugs for a particular therapeutic category might possess useful antioxidant capacity hence minimising tissue injury due to free radicals.

Brain lipid peroxidation and hydroxy radical attack following the intravenous infusion of hydrogen peroxide in an infant

Death following peroxide administration in humans has been reported repeatedly. Hydrogen peroxide, an odorless and clear solution is considered a harmless liquid and is in use for cleaning of superficial wounds. We describe the fatal infusion of this compound by mistake leading to oxygen embolism and, subsequently, to death as a warning for the clinician. Hydrogen peroxide is suggested a major substrate for the in vivo production of the potent oxidizing free radical species "hydroxy radical." No direct evidence for its in vivo production from hydrogen peroxide has been described so far. Using the principle of o-tyrosine determination we studied the formation of the hydroxy radical in the postmortem brain of the infant given intravenous hydrogen peroxide in comparison to postmortem brain samples from five infants. o-Tyrosine is formed by hydroxy radical attack on free and bound phenylalanine and was increased twofold in the brain of the infant given hydrogen peroxide. The significant increase of brain malondialdehyde, a major product and indicator of lipid peroxidation, paralleled the findings of hydroxy radical attack, suggesting that this reactive species has been leading to elevated lipid peroxidation. We propose that the generation of lipid peroxidation and the hydroxy radical from hydrogen peroxide can take place in humans.

Glycosylation enhances malondialdehyde binding to proteins

To determine whether glycosylation of proteins increases their susceptibility to modification with malondialdehyde (MDA), bovine serum albumin, which was pretreated with 500 mg/dl dextrose at 37 degrees C for 0, 1, 2, and 4 weeks, were incubated with 100 mM MDA at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The MDA content of the protein samples were determined after dialysis using thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. In addition, a specific anti-MDA protein antiserum was used to demonstrate MDA proteins with immunoblotting technique. The MDA content of BSA preincubated with dextrose for 4 weeks and reincubated with MDA (0.0649 +/- 0.0019 microgram MDA/mg protein) was significantly higher (p < .001) than the MDA content of BSA preincubated with dextrose for only one (0.0227 +/- 0.0031 microgram/mg) or two (0.0347 +/- 0.0034 microgram/mg) weeks or the MDA content of nonglysolated BSA incubated with MDA at the same experimental conditions (0.0201 +/- 0.0029 microgram/mg). These differences could also be found in the immunoblots. However, the correlation of TBA assay with the estimates on immunoblots was poor. It is likely that the immunoblotting assay is more of an estimate of the number of BSA molecules modified with MDA, rather than MDA content of each BSA molecule. It is concluded that in vitro glycosylation of proteins increases their susceptibility to MDA-modification. This may well be an additional pathway of diabetes-related modification of proteins.

In vivo indices of oxidative stress in lead-exposed C57BL/6 mice are reduced by treatment with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid or N-acetylcysteine

Knowledge of lead's capacity to disrupt the prooxidant/antioxidant balance within mammalian tissues suggests that definitive therapy for chronic lead poisoning should encompass both chelating and antioxidant actions. The dithiol meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA) is the first orally administered metal chelating agent to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of childhood plumbism and possesses the potential to function as an antioxidant by removing lead from the site of deleterious oxidation reactions. Five weeks of lead exposure was found to deplete glutathione (GSH) levels, increase oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and promote malondialdehyde (MDA) production in both liver and brain samples taken from C57BL/6 mice. GSH levels increased and GSSG and MDA levels decreased in groups of lead-exposed mice that received 1 mmol/kg DMSA or 5.5 mmol/kg N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 7 d prior to sacrifice. Treatment with DMSA caused a reduction in blood, liver, and brain lead levels consistent with its function as a chelating agent, while treatment with NAC did not reduce these lead levels. However, NAC did cause a reduction in indices of oxidative stress in both brain and liver samples, which implies that this synthetic thiol-containing antioxidant is capable of abrogating lead-induced oxidative stress in vivo. Overall, these results suggest that lead-induced oxidative stress in vivo can be mitigated by pharmacologic interventions, which encompass both chelating as well as thiol-mediated antioxidant functions.

In vitro study of the metabolic effects of D-amino acids

While the L-configuration of amino acids predominates in all known living systems, D-enantiomers of amino acids have been detected with highly sensitive chromatographic techniques in human physiological fluids. In the present study, the survival of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) and HeLa cells was inhibited by exposure to high concentrations of some D- or L-amino acids. Inhibition of colony formation, though, was not necessarily observed to be chiral-dependent. Some L-amino acids (LAAs) were found to be toxic while other D-amino acids (DAAs) were innocuous in both cultures. This is contradictory to the previous observations that DAAs were generally considered to be harmful. Frequently it was implied, although not experimentally proven, that the LAAs were not toxic. One of the metabolites produced by oxidative deamination of D- or LAAs is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is decomposed by catalase. Increased intracellular H2O2 can result in peroxidation of lipids. We measured catalase activity and the lipid peroxide levels (LPO) after incubating cells in either D- or LAAs. The amino acids (AAs) that were found to inhibit colony formation were found to be associated with higher levels of catalase activity and LPO. Therefore, we hypothesize that enhanced ROS generation may be, in part, responsible for the observed toxicity of some amino acids.

Oxidative stress in fish exposed to model xenobiotics. Oxidatively modified forms of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase as potential biomarkers

Fish (Sparus aurata) were intraperitoneally injected with model xenobiotics and several biomarkers of oxidative stress were analysed after 2 and 7 days exposure. The levels of soluble thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased markedly in animals treated with polar xenobiotics, CuCl2 or paraquat; exposure to the apolar xenobiotics, dieldrin or malathion, enhanced significantly the microsomal TBARS while decreasing the microsomal glutathione transferase activity. The specific superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in Cu(II)-injected animals but diminished in fish exposed to paraquat. After isoelectrofocusing separation and activity staining cell-free extracts of fish exposed to Cu(II), dieldrin or malathion displayed two new Cu,Zn-SOD isoforms of intermediate pI. An additional Mn-SOD was observed in dieldrin-injected fish, but only a faint new acidic isoform was observed in paraquat-injected animals. The new SOD bands were reproduced in vitro by incubation of cell-free extracts with systems generating superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide and with a tert-butyl hydroperoxide/ADP-Fe system. Metallothionein induction was observed in Cu(II) or paraquat-exposed fish, but not in animals injected with apolar xenobiotics. So, the new SOD bands are possibly oxidized forms of this enzyme and can be considered as useful early biomarkers of oxidative stress due to transition metals or organic xenobiotics.

Assessment of radical activity during the acute phase of myocardial infarction following fibrinolysis: utility of assaying plasma malondialdehyde

Numerous experimental and clinical studies have reported a role of radical forms of oxygen in the etiology of the manifestations of reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium. However, clinical results remain controversial. The aim of this study was to ascertain the existence of reperfusion-related radical stress after thrombolysis with a marker that is easy to use and reliable. Thirty patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction were involved in the study. Of these, 18 had been subjected to intravenous thrombolysis (Group I) and 12 had not (Group II). They were compared to two control groups who had no history of myocardial infarction. Of these, 16 were patients with coronary heart disease hospitalized for stable angina (Group III) and 17 were patients free of any known cardiovascular disease (Group IV). Radical activity was assessed in plasma samples taken from a peripheral vein over a 10-day period of hospitalization by measuring (1) malondialdehydes (MDA) concentrations using fluorometry techniques or HPLC, (2) the antioxidant activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and (3) the concentration of various antiradical compounds (beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, uric acid). All patients in Group I had a patent artery on coronary angiography and showed a significant increase in plasma MDA when compared to those who had not been subjected to thrombolysis (3.15 +/- 0.62 and 2.70 +/- 0.40 mole/l of plasma, respectively). Furthermore, GPx plasma activity was also significantly increased following thrombolysis. By contrast, there was no significant alteration in the antiradical compounds measured. These data suggest that MDA measurements (an early measurement 1-2 days and a late measurement 5-7 days after reperfusion) by fluorometry is a good marker of radical stress during reperfusion in man. The assessment of this marker in patients might represent a simple and reliable test of reperfusion efficacy following thrombolysis, and it might enable one to test the effect of various antioxidant therapies associated with thrombolytic treatment.

Differential incorporation of fatty acids into and peroxidative loss of fatty acids from phospholipids of human spermatozoa

Intact human sperm incorporated radiolabelled fatty acids into membrane phospholipids when incubated in medium containing bovine serum albumin as a fatty acid carrier. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were preferentially incorporated into the plasmalogen fraction of phospholipid. Uptake was linear with time over 2 hr; at this time sufficient label was available to determine the loss of fatty acids under conditions of spontaneous lipid peroxidation. Loss of the various phospholipid types, the loss of the various fatty acids from these phospholipids, and the overall loss of fatty acids were all first order. The loss of saturated fatty acids was slow with first order rate constant k1 = 0.003 hr-1; for the polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, k1 = 0.145 and 0.162 hr-1, respectively. The rate of loss of fatty acids from the various phospholipid types was dependent on the type, with loss from phosphatidylethanolamine being the most rapid. Among the phospholipid types, phosphatidylethanolamine was lost at the greatest rate. Analysis of fatty acid loss through oxidation products was determined for radiolabelled arachidonic acid. Under conditions of spontaneous lipid peroxidation at 37 degrees C under air in the absence of albumin, free arachidonic acid was found in the medium, along with minor amounts of hydroxylated derivative. All the hydroperoxy fatty acid remained in the cells. In the presence of albumin, all the hydroperoxy fatty acid was found in the supernatant bound to albumin; none could be detected in the cells. Albumin is known as a very potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in sperm; its action may be explained, based on these results, as binding the damaging hydroperoxy fatty acids. These results also indicate that a phospholipase A2 may act in peroxidative defense by excising a hydroperoxy acyl group from phospholipid and providing the hydroperoxy fatty acid product as substrate to glutathione peroxidase. This formulation targets hydroperoxy fatty acid as a key intermediate in peroxidative degradation.

Urinary malondialdehyde-equivalents during ingestion of meat cooked at high or low temperatures

Excretion of malondialdehyde (MDA)-generating substances in the urine has been suggested as an indicator of in vivo lipid peroxidation. However, MDA in the urine also reflects the amount of lipid peroxidation products consumed in the diet. We determined MDA as the thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-MDA complex in urine of 19 healthy adults (10 male and 9 female) fed large quantities (3.6-4.1 g/kg body weight) of ground beef cooked at a low or a high temperature. Subjects ate a controlled diet with no alcohol or nutritional supplements. For 7 d they consumed ground beef cooked at 100 degrees C for 20 min (low-temperature meat) followed by 7 d with meat fried at 250 degrees C for 22 min (high-temperature meat). Prior to the study, subjects consumed their normal free choice diet with moderate amounts of meat. The concentration of MDA in urine at baseline was 2.1 +/- 0.3 mumol TBA-MDA equivalents/day (mean +/- SEM). After 7 d of low-temperature meat, urinary TBA-MDA equivalents increased to 23.1 +/- 1.4 mumol/d. Urinary TBA-MDA equivalents were consistently lower (6.9-8.0 mumol/d) 1, 2, 3, and 7 d after subjects changed to high-temperature meat. After 7 d of treatment, 97% of the MDA-equivalents in the meat was recovered in 24-h urine samples. The low temperature meat had 3-4 times more MDA than did the high-temperature meat. These data indicate that the amount of meat eaten and the cooking procedures used can dramatically alter urinary MDA. Dietary sources of MDA must be controlled if urinary MDA is to be used as an indicator of oxidative stress.

Effects of peroxidative stress and age on the concentration of a deoxyguanosine-malondialdehyde adduct in rat DNA

The effect of age and peroxidative stress on the concentration of a deoxyguanosine malondialdehyde adduct (dG-MDA) in rat tissues was investigated. Vitamin E deficiency had no effect on the dG-MDA content of liver DNA in rats fed a diet containing 10% corn oil. When 2% cod liver oil was added to this diet, the dG-MDA content of liver DNA doubled in the positive controls fed a high level of vitamin E (100 ppm dl-alpha-tocopherol), and there was a further increase when vitamin E was deleted. Neither iron nitrilotriacetate administration nor choline deficiency had any effect on the dG-MDA content of liver DNA. Carbon tetrachloride had a lowering effect. The failure of iron or carbon tetrachloride administration and of vitamin E deficiency to increase liver dG-MDA is consistent with their failure in previous experiments to affect the urinary excretion of dG-MDA. In contrast, these forms of peroxidative stress produce large increments in the urinary excretion of MDA adducts with lysine, reflecting increased formation and degradation of MDA-modified proteins. DNA appears to be protected from modification by MDA produced at extranuclear sites. The frequency of dG-MDA in different tissues of 4-month-old rats varied markedly: brain >> liver > kidneys and testes. Higher concentrations of dG-MDA were found in the liver and kidneys, but not the testes, of 25-month-old rats. The determinants of the concentration of dG-MDA in DNA merit further investigation.

Increased formation and degradation of malondialdehyde-modified proteins under conditions of peroxidative stress

The effect of increased in vivo lipid peroxidation on excretion of the main urinary metabolites of malondialdehyde (MDA) was investigated. peroxidative stress in the form of vitamin E deficiency or the administration of iron nitrilotriacetate or carbon tetrachloride was imposed on rats fed an MDA-free diet. Significant increases were observed in excretion of the lysine-MDA adduct epsilon-propenal lysine, its N-acetyl ester, and free MDA. Under the conditions imposed, the increments in excretion of the lysine adducts reflect increased peroxidative modification of tissue proteins in vivo. These adducts also were found to be the main forms of MDA excreted in human urine. Reacting 14C-bovine serum albumin (BSA) with MDA resulted in its accelerated proteolysis in vitro by soluble enzyme preparations derived from human erythrocytes and rat liver mitochondria. The increments observed were similar to those reported for the hydrolysis of BSA following its exposure to hydroxyl radicals. The results show that lipid peroxidation in vivo results in peroxidative damage to tissue proteins and indicate that such proteins are subject to an accelerated rate of proteolysis.

Alteration of the adrenal antioxidant defense system during aging in rats

The goal of this study was to determine to what extent aging affects the antioxidant defense system of the rat adrenal and to evaluate the impact of any change in this system on the recognized age-related decline in steroidogenic capacity of adrenocortical cells. The studies were conducted on young (2-5 mo) and aging (12-27 mo) Sprague-Dawley rats and involved procedures measuring steroidogenesis; oxidative damage to tissue; non enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and glutathione; and tissue antioxidant enzyme (Mn and CuZn superoxide dismutases, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) activity and expression (mRNA, protein mass, and location). Some measurements were made also on rats maintained on vitamin E-deficient diets. The data show that adrenals from young animals are especially well protected against oxidative events; i.e., these adrenals show the least endogenous lipid peroxidation and the highest level of resistance to prooxidant-induced damage (of various tissues measured) and show exceedingly high levels of tissue antioxidants. Aging, on the other hand, results in oxidative changes in adrenal tissue that are generally linked in time to a reduction in efficiency of the normally protective antioxidant defense system and to the decline in corticosterone production. We speculate that these events are causally related, i.e., that the age-related reduction in oxidative mechanisms in adrenal tissues leads to oxidative damage of membrane or cytosolic factors important to cholesterol transport, and, as a consequence of this damage, cholesterol cannot reach appropriate mitochondrial cholesterol side chain cleavage sites, and corticosterone production fails.

Blue light-induced reactivity of retinal age pigment. In vitro generation of oxygen-reactive species

Exposure of the eye to intense light, particularly blue light, can cause irreversible, oxygen-dependent damage to the retina. However, no key chromophores that trigger such photooxidative processes have been identified yet. We have found that illumination of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells with light induces significant uptake of oxygen that is both wavelength- and age-dependent. Analysis of photoreactivity of RPE cells and their age pigment lipofuscin indicates that the observed photoreactivity in RPE cells is primarily due to the presence of lipofuscin, which, under aerobic conditions, generates several oxygen-reactive species including singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide. We have also found that lipofuscin-photosensitized aerobic reactions lead to enhanced lipid peroxidation as measured by accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde in illuminated pigment granules. Hydrogen peroxide is only a minor product of aerobic photoexcitation of lipofuscin. We postulate that lipofuscin is a potential photosensitizer that may increase the risk of retinal photodamage and contribute to the development of age-related maculopathy.

Studies on lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in the aging brain

Lipid peroxidation (LP) and protein oxidation (PO) were investigated in hippocampus and frontal cortex homogenates from young (5 months), mature (13 months) and old (24 months) Wistar rats and young (5 months) and old (24 months) Brown Norway rats. LP and PO were determined in basal conditions and after incubation without iron (spontaneous condition) or with iron (stimulated condition). LP was measured as HPLC-assayed malondialdehyde (MDA) and PO as protein carbonyl (CO) content. Brain homogenates formed considerable amounts of MDA and CO spontaneously and, to an even greater extent, in the presence of Fe2+. Old rats showed greater iron-stimulated LP in the cortex than young rats, but the difference was not significant. Basal (but not spontaneous or stimulated) PO was significantly increased (19%) in the hippocampus of old compared to young rats. This study does not confirm the age-related increase in LP reported in the literature and only partially confirms the findings concerning PO.

Role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis

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Identification of a deoxyguanosine-malondialdehyde adduct in rat and human urine

In an ongoing study, rat and human urine have been examined for the presence of malondialdehyde (MDA) derivatives as indicators of the nature of lipid peroxidative damage caused by this compound in vivo. MDA in urine was found to be present mainly in the form of two lysine adducts, one acetylated and the other unacetylated, reflecting in vivo reactions with tissue proteins. Two minor metabolites were identified as adducts with the phospholipid bases serine and ethanolamine and a third one as an adduct with the nucleic acid base guanine. The identification of an MDA adduct with deoxyguanosine (dG-MDA) among the products of hydrolysis of rat liver DNA suggested the possible occurrence of this compound in urine. In the present study dG-MDA was identified in rat and in human urine, and a high-performance liquid chromatographic method utilizing fluorescence detection was developed for its estimation. The method is sensitive to 1 pmol of dG-MDA and requires a minimum of 1 mL of rat urine or 5 mL of human urine. Its rate of excretion by five-week-old rats (28.54 +/- 2.28 nmol/kg/24 h) (mean +/- SEM) was higher than that for nine-week-old rats (6.29 +/- 1.02) and much higher than that for adult humans (0.40 +/- 0.05). The results indicate that, as reported for 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, dG-MDA excretion is related to metabolic rate. Excretion of dG-MDA by the rat, like the excretion of total MDA, declines during growth on a body weight basis at a rate similar to the decrease in resting energy metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ultraviolet light-induced free radical formation in skin: an electron paramagnetic resonance study

It has been suggested that ultraviolet light induces free radical formation in skin, leading to photoaging and cancer. We have demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance that the ascorbate free radical is naturally present in unexposed skin at a very low steady state level. When a section of SKH-1 hairless mouse skin in an EPR cavity is exposed to UV light (4,500 J m-2.s-1, Xe lamp, 305 nm cutoff and IR filters), the ascorbate free radical signal intensity increases. These results indicate that UV light increases free radical oxidative stress, consistent with ascorbate's role as the terminal, small-molecule antioxidant. The initial radicals produced by UV light would have very short lifetimes at room temperature; thus, we have applied EPR spin trapping techniques to detect these radicals. Using alpha-[4-pyridyl 1-oxide]-N-tert-butyl nitrone (POBN), we have for the first time spin trapped a UV light-produced carbon-centered free radical from intact skin. The EPR spectra exhibited hyperfine splittings that are characteristic of POBN/alkyl radicals, aN = 15.56 G and aH = 2.70 G, possibly generated from membrane lipids as a result of beta-scission of lipid alkoxyl radicals. Iron can act as a catalyst for free radical oxidative reactions; chronic exposure of skin to UV radiation causes increased iron deposition. Using our spin trapping system, we have shown that topical application of the iron-chelator, Desferal, to a section of skin reduces the UV light-induced POBN adduct radical signal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)