Lipid peroxidation was initiated by the addition of either ADP-complexed Fe3 + or cumene hydroperoxide to isolated rat hepatocytes and the resultant biochemical and morphological alterations investigated. As previously observed with microsomes, malonaldehyde formation was associated with the inactivation of glucose-6-phosphatase. Inhibition of microsomal oxidative drug metabolism was correlated with the release and subsequent inactivation of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, whereas cytochrome P-450 destruction occurred only in the presence of high concentrations of the organic hydroperoxide which were associated with extensive malonaldehyde formation. Under these conditions there were also marked ultrastructural alterations in the hepatocytes which were not apparent after incubation in the presence ofiron (I 187pM Fe3+). The latter treatment was, however, associated with moderate biochemical effects such as glucose-6-phosphatase inactivation and increased membrane permeability. The cellular defence system against lipid peroxidation is discussed and it is concluded that the isolated liver cell system provides a valuable tool for the study of lipid peroxidation and its pathological implications. Because of its widespread toxic effects lipid peroxidation might have pathological implications as has been proposed in connection with iron toxicity [6] and CCI, toxicity [7]. However, the role of lipid peroxidation during the early stages of cell damage leading to cell necrosis has yet to be established.Isolated liver cells produce malonaldehyde, a metabolite of lipid peroxides, upon exposer to ADP-complexed iron or the organic peroxide cumene hydroEn:ymc.s. Collagenase (EC 3.4.24.3); Hyaluronidase or hyaluronate 4-glycanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.35); NADPH-cytcchrome c reductase (EC 1.6.2.4); Glucose 6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9).peroxide [8]. Malonaldehyde production, which is readily monitored in this isolated-cell system, is probably catalyzed by the drug-hydroxylating enzyme system located in the endoplasmic reticulum and is thus comparable with the enzyme-dependent lipid peroxidation reactions of isolated microsomes [9,10]. The isolated cell system, however, differs from a microsomal system in being fortified with natural inhibitors, which alter the response to agents that stimulate lipid peroxidation [8,11]. The purpose of this work was to characterize some early alterations in isolated hepatocytes in which malonaldehyde production had been induced.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe cell preparation and incubation techniques were the same as described previously [8,11]. Lipid peroxide formation was initiated by addition of ADPcomplexediron(stocksolution50mMADP + 1.87mM FeC1,) or an aqueous solution of cumene hydroperoxide (stock solution 30 mM). The reaction was followed by the withdrawal of aliquots (0.2 ml) of the whole incubation mixture for spectrophotometric measurements of thiobarbituric-acid-reacting substances at 535 nm (malonaldehyde) [12].