CHRONIC CIGARETTE-SMOKE EXPOSURE OF RATS RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ANTIOXIDANTS IN ORGANS AND PLASMA - EFFECT OF MYOCARDIAL ISCHAEMIA REPERFUSION/

The combination of decreased antioxidant vitamins, oxidation of sulfhy dryl groups and increased oxygen radical production suggest an oxidati ve mechanism of cigarette smoke induced damage. Cigarette smoke expose d rats show an increased myocardial sensitivity towards ischaemia/repe rfusion. The aim of this study was to determine whether smoke exposure of rats resulted in altered antioxidant concentrations (vitamin E, vi tamin C, GSH, cysteine) in the heart, lung, liver, erythrocyte and pla sma. The effect of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion on smoke exposed r ats was also investigated. Protein modification (measured by sulfhydry ls and carbonyls) of the plasma and isolated hearts was determined. Re sults showed that there was redistribution of antioxidants between the compartments investigated and oxidative protein modification was obse rved in the plasma after smoke exposure. Protein modification occurred in the heart but was not due to oxidative injury. Myocardial mitochon drial function was similar to that of rats not subjected to smoke.