Changes of oxidative stress in various tissues by long-term administration of vitamin E in hypercholesterolemic rats.
BACKGROUND
Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
The lipid peroxides and antioxidant status of various tissues were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats and the effect of vitamin E supplementation on defense systems.


RESULTS
Cholesterol-feeding caused a significant increase in the lipid peroxide concentrations of plasma, erythrocytes, liver and brain. In addition, a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione transferase (GSH-ST) activities were found in erythrocytes and liver but superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity remained unchanged in these tissues in comparison to the control group. Vitamin E supplementation to hypercholesterolemic rats induced a significantly decrease in lipid peroxide concentrations and a significant increase in the GSH content, GSH-Px and GSH-ST activities in erythrocytes and liver.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term administration of vitamin E may play an important role in suppressing oxidative stress, and thus, may be useful for the prevention and/or early treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Gökkuşu
Cahide
C
Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Capa 34390, Istanbul, Turkey. cahgok@istanbul.edu.tr
Mostafazadeh
Tannaz
T
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D014810:Vitamin E; D005978:Glutathione