EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E ON REOXYGENATION INJURY EXPERIENCED BY ISOLATED RAT HEPATOCYTES

The pathogenic role of lipid peroxidation in the reperfusion injury of the liver is still controversial. This study was performed to determi ne whether the damage caused by oxygen free radicals during reoxygenat ion in perfused rat hepatocytes is related to lipid peroxidation. Supe roxide anion was detected by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. Lip id peroxidation and cell injury were assessed by the release of malond ialdehyde and lactic dehydrogenase. Upon reoxygenation following 2.5 h of anoxia, isolated hepatocytes generated considerable amount of O-2- . Following O-2- formation, a significant increase in malondialdehyde release was measured. Cell injury was temporally delayed relative to O -2- generation, but preceded the occurence of a significant lipid pero xidation. Treatment with Vitamin E abolished lipid peroxidation but ha d no effect upon superoxide anion formation and cell injury. These res ults suggest that in perfused rat hepatocytes non-peroxidative mechani sms are more important than peroxidative mechanisms in the pathogenesi s of the early phases of reoxygenation injury.