Vitamin E protects against iron-hexachlorobenzene induced porphyria and formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the liver of C57BL/10ScSn mice

The effect of vitamin E treatment on total porphyrin content, lipid peroxid ation (LOOH) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was studied in the livers of C57BL/10ScSn mice following hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and iron treatment. HCB was administered i.p. (totalling 300 mg/kg) twice, with 1 week interva l. Three days after the first HCB injection iron-dextran was given i.p. (50 0 mg Fe per kg). Vitamin E was administered weekly (20 mg/kg) by s.c. injec tion, Both total hepatic porphyrin and LOOH levels were significantly (P<0. 001) increased in the HCB-iron treated group as compared with the control g roup. Mice treated additionally with vitamin E had significant (P<0.001) lo wer levels as compared with the HCB-iron group. Similarly, the levels of 8- OHdG were significantly (P<0.001) increased above controls after HCB-iron t reatment and this increase was reduced after co-treatment with vitamin E (P <0.02). The data support the hypothesis that the mechanism of hepatic porph yrinogenicity of HCB with iron overload is an oxidative free radical proces s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Ail rights reserved.