Age-related changes in lipid peroxidation products in rat adrenal gland

Chloroform-methanol extracts from rat adrenals at five different ages (2, 6 , 12, 18 and 24 months), were studied by fluorescence. After obtaining exci tation and emission spectra, fluorescence intensity was measured at 365 nm excitation and 455 emission for all time points of aging. An additional stu dy of lipid peroxidation employing a thiobarbituric acid reaction was made. Fluorescence intensity increased during aging from 16.39 x 10(3) arbitrary units of fluorescence per gram of tissue at 2 months, to 34.33 x 10(3) unit s at 24 months. Thiobarbituric acid reaction products expressed in nmol of malondialdehyde per gram of adrenal increased from 172.97 at 2 months to 64 0.83 at 24 months. One way analysis of variance revealed a statistically si gnificant difference (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). The results show an age-related steady increase in lipid peroxidation produ cts in rat adrenals and suggest their accumulation in lipofuscin granules.