On the lipid peroxidation of rat liver hepatocytes, the formation of fluorescent chromolipids and high molecular weight protein

Abstract

1. The formation of malondialdehyde by intact hepatocytes, induced by ADP/Fe3+ or cumene hydroperoxide, can be inhibited by the addition of thiourea. This may indicate that hydroxyl radicals are involved in this process. 2. Lipid peroxidation of intact hepatocytes leads to the formation of fluorescent chromolipids. When similar amounts of malondialdehyde are formed by either ADP/Fe3+ or cumene hydroperoxide, the lipid peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide generates more fluorescent chromolipids than does the lipid peroxidation induced by ADP/Fe3+. 3. The formation of chromolipids is accompanied by the genesis of high molecular weight protein. With cumene hydroperoxide more high molecular weight protein is formed than with ADP/Fe3+. 4. It can be concluded that the defense system against lipid peroxidation of intact hepatocytes does not prevent the formation of lipofuscin-like chromolipids and high molecular weight protein as found earlier in microsomes. Cumene hydroperoxide, at least in this system, can be considered as an effective inducer of chromolipids.