Effect of vitamin E deficiency on oxidative metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activity of macrophages.

In AUG rats, deprived of vitamin E for 90 days, we noted a 3-fold increase of kinetic parameters of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of macrophages, stimulated with opsonized zymosan, superoxide dismutase activity decrease and increment of plasma membrane lipid bilayer microviscosity, which was estimated by fluorescent probe pyrene eximerization method. Vitamin E deficiency did not affect glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities of macrophages.

[Molecular aspects of the mechanism of anti-oxidant activity of vitamin E: features of the action of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol].

Current data on mechanisms of vitamin E action are reviewed with the specific reference to the antioxidant theory. Experimental data relevant to this theory on alpha- and gamma-tocopherols reactions in biological and nonbiological systems are considered. Distinctly lower biological activity of gamma-tocopherol, as compared with that of alpha-tocopherol, was shown not to depend only on dissimilar antiradical properties of these two homologues.

[Vitamin E and propolis as antioxidants after excessive administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids].

Polyunsaturated fatty acids included into animals' ration (10% of linethol) intensified lipid peroxidation and increased the activity of cathepsin D, an enzyme responsible for protein and lipid degradation in the cell. Vitamin E stabilized the impaired processes. Biologically active complex of propolis produced a similar effect, however, decreased protein synthesis and a tendency to animals' body mass increment have evidenced a more pronounced antioxidative action as compared to that of vitamin E.

[Effect of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols on the cytochrome P-450 system in the liver of rats with E-avitaminosis. Effectiveness of liposomal forms of gamma-tocopherol].

The effects of low doses of intraperitoneally injected alpha- and gamma-tocopherols dispersed in isotonic solutions of NaCl and of liposomal gamma-tocopherol on endogenous lipid peroxidation and the cytochrome P-450 system of vitamin E-deficient rats were compared. It was found that all tocopherol preparations under study caused a twofold decrease of the lipid Schiff base concentration in the liver in comparison with tocopherol-deficient rats. However, the increase in cytochrome P-450 and b5 levels and the high functional activity of the microsomal oxidation system in the benz(a)pyrene hydroxylation reaction was induced only after liposomal gamma-tocopherol injection.