STUDY ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION POTENTIAL IN DIFFERENT TISSUES INDUCED BYASCORBATE-FE2- POSSIBLE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THEIR DIFFERENTIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY( )

Susceptibility of four major rat tissues to oxidative damage in terms of lipid peroxidation induced by in vitro by ascorbate-Fe2+ in homogen ates and mitochondria has been examined. Lipid peroxidation, as assess ed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TEARS) and conjugated d ienes was maximum in brain followed by liver, kidney and heart. Howeve r, the time course of lipid peroxidation showed different patterns in tissues examined. The higher susceptibilities of brain and liver can b e explained by substrate availability and to a lesser extent the level of antioxidants. The differences observed in the tissues studied may reflect their susceptibility to degenerative diseases and xenobiotic t oxicity which are considered as a result of oxidative damage to membra nes.