LIPID OXIDATION-PRODUCTS IN ISCHEMIC PORCINE HEART-TISSUE

Infarcted porcine heart tissue and surrounding tissue were investigate d for the content of plasmalogens and oxidatively derived correspondin g alpha-hydroxyaldehydes as well as for products of lipid peroxidation , e.g. malondialdehyde, glyoxal, 2-hydroxyheptanal and oxygenated fatt y acids. Oxidation products of unsaturated fatty acids and plasmalogen s were accumulated in infarcted tissue compared to the surrounding one . Their amounts increased with time of ischemia. In addition leukotoxi ns (9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid and 12,13-epoxy-9-octadecenoic aci d) as well as other epoxides of unsaturated fatty acids were identifie d. These compounds are absent in healthy heart tissue. Some of the mon ohydroxy fatty acids? found in comparable high yield, can not be deriv ed from LPO processes. They are obviously generated from epoxides. The ir distribution pattern indicates that they originate by an enzymic ra ther than by an autocatalytic process. We assume that the enzymes are activated by cell injury due to infarction. Linoleic acid seems to be an as equally well-suited substrate for enzymic attack as arachidonic acid.