EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E ON PEROXIDATION AND PERMEABILITY OF THE PERITONEUM

Because of the evidence that peritoneal macrophages are activated duri ng peritoneal dialysis, we hypothesised that the injury of the periton eum is, at least in part, dependent on the intraperitoneal generation of free radicals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of v itamin E on the peroxidation and permeability of the peritoneum during chronic peritoneal dialysis in rats. Supplementation of the intraperi toneally infused saline with vitamin E decreased the peroxidation of p eritoneum estimated as the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in rats' omentu m. However the permeability of the peritoneum to glucose and protein i n vitamin E treated rats was increased. In in vitro study we have foun d that vitamin E is cytotoxic to human mesothelial cells (HMC) as meas ured by inhibition of their proliferation and this effect was irrevers ible. We conclude that vitamin E, despite its antioxidant effect, caus es the changes of the peritoneum permeability which could decrease the effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis.