This study investigated the peroxidative state of renal failure by mea
suring lipid peroxidation. The generation of lipid peroxides by rat he
patic microsomes was compared between experimental renal failure cause
d by 7/8 nephrectomy and healthy control animals. The concentrations o
f BUN at the point of sacrifice were 84.2 +/- 18.4 (mean +/- SD) in ne
phrectomized and 19.8 +/- 4.3 mg/dl in the control group (p < 0.01, n
= 5). Microsomal generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance
was 31.2 +/- 2.8 in the nephrectomized group and 20.9 +/- 4.9 nmol/inc
ubation/min in the control group. There was a significant difference b
etween the groups (p < 0.01, n = 5). In summary, the generation rate o
f lipid peroxides in the microsomes obtained from the rats with experi
mental renal failure was significantly higher than the control. This s
tudy confirms an increased peroxidative state, and specifies one of th
e sites of increased lipid peroxide generation in renal failure.