Antenatal effects of ethanol and limontar on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant defense system in the brain and liver of rat progeny

Abstract

the accumulation of the DETC-Fe-NO complex was completely blocked by 2 mM ethylene glycol tetraacetate, a specific chelator of Ca 2+ ions, which is an obligatory component of the NO-synthase reaction; 3) the accumulation of the DETC complex was inhibited by the specific inhibitors of NO-synthase N-methyl-L-arginine (by 70% at a concentration of 1 raM) and nitro-L-arginine (by 60% at a concentration of 1 raM).Thus, the method proposed here may be used for correct determination of NO-synthase activity in dense brain homogenates. The method is also applicable for enzyme preparations of various purity (in these cases auxiliary problems concerning the incubation conditions and addition of Fe(II) should be experimentally solved), but in the case of dense homogenates and tissue samples, where the level of effectors regulating NO-synthase activity is maximally preserved, this method offers the greatest advantages. REFERENCES I. P.A. Bush, N. E. Gortzales, J. M. Griscavage, and L. J.Ignarro, Biochem. Biophys. Res, Commun, 185, N.o 3, 960-966 (1992).2. L. Calza, L. Giardino, and S, CeccateUi, Neuroreport, 4, No-4, 627-630 (1993). 3. R. G. Knowles, M. Palacios, R. M. Palmer, and S.Moncada, Biochem. J., 269, 207-210 (1990 Neuroreport, 4, No-2, 267-270 (1993). Translated from Byulleten'Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol.l17, No 1, pp.41-44, January, 1994 Original article submitted July 5, 1993 In contrast to short-term exposure, prolonged exposure to ethanol in the antenatal period is found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in the brain and liver of rats. Activation of the system of antioxidant defense in the brain and liver is observed after both shortand long-term exposure to ethanol. After short-term ethanol exposure, limontar norrealizes lipid peroxidation. Antenatal Effects of Ethanol and Limontar on LipidKey Words: antenatal effect of ethanol; lipid peroxidation; enzymatic system of antioxidant defense; brain; liver Lipid peroxidation (LPO) activated by ethanol impairs biological membranes and their permeability [10,12]. The enzymatic system of antioxidant (AO) defense also responds to ethanol administration