LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN THE LIVER, ERYTHROCYTES,AND SERUM OF RATS AFTER METHANOL INTOXICATION

Lipid peroxidation products measured as a malondialdehyde and activiti es of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glu tathione reductase (GSSG-R), and concentrations of ascorbic acid, a-to copherol, and glutathione (GSH) were measured in the liver, erythrocyt es, and serum of rats 6, 14, and 24 h and 2, 5, and 7 d after treatmen t with 3 g methanol/kg. GSH-Px and GSSG-R activities, GSH level, and a scorbate concentration in the liver, erythrocytes, and blood serum wer e significantly decreased. In addition, SOD and alpha-tocopherol in er ythrocytes were diminished, while malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, eryt hrocytes, and serum were elevated. Further, erythrocyte counts, hemogl obin levels, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were reduce d. These results indicate that methanol intoxication in rats leads to an increase in the lipid peroxidation and impairment in the antioxidan t mechanisms in liver, erythrocytes, and blood serum.