OXYGEN-FREE RADICAL SCAVENGER PROPERTIES OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE

The microsomes from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-supplemented animals are good hydroxyl radical scavengers, as demonstrated through electro n spin resonance and deoxyribose degradation. The ability of DHEA-supp lemented microsomes to react with superoxide radical was also demonstr ated through the inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction determi ned by superoxide radicals produced in a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. DHEA-enriched microsomes, obtained from acutely DHEA-treated rats, become resistant to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation triggered by H2O2/FeSO4 and ascorbate/FeSO4. The direct addition of DHEA to micr osomes from untreated rats failed to prevent iron-dependent lipid pero xidation, even if the microsomes were preincubated with DHEA for up to 15 min, indicating that in vivo transformation is required before ant ioxidant action can be exerted. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.