PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AGAINST COPPER-INDUCED LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN THE RAT

This study investigates the effectiveness and multitargeted activity o f dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as antioxidant in vivo. A single dose of DHEA was given IP to male rats. Liver and brain microsomes, and pla sma low density lipoprotein (LDL), were isolated from rats sacrified 1 7 h later. Liver and brain microsomes were challenged with CuSO4 and, as index of lipid peroxidation, the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was measured. Also, plasma low-density lip oprotein (LDL) were challenged with copper and the time course of lipi d peroxidation was evaluated following the formation of conjugated die nes. The onset of TBARS generation induced by copper was marked delaye d in both liver and brain microsomes from DHEA-treated animals. Also, the resistance of LDL to oxidation, expressed by the duration of the l ag-phase of the kinetic curve, was significantly enhanced in DHEA-trea ted rats. Results indicate that in vivo DHEA supplementation makes sub cellular fractions isolated from different tissues and plasma constitu ents (LDL) more resistant to lipid peroxidation triggered by copper. T he antioxidant effect on plasma LDL might be of special relevance to t he proposed antiatherogenic activity of DHEA. Moreover, multitargeted antioxidant activity of DHEA might protect tissues from oxygen radical s damage. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.