Effect of glucose on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat liver slices.

Glucose induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver slices and caused membrane damage to liver cells due to oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase provided an antioxidant enzyme protection against the oxidative stress at low glucose concentrations (25-75 mm) but catalase showed no significant changes. The activity of both of these enzymes decreased in the liver slices at a higher concentration of glucose (150 mm). The glutathione content and the activity of glutathione S-transferase in the liver slices was decreased in the presence of glucose. The decrease in the glutathione content and glutathione S-transferase activity cause ineffective neutralization of the electrophiles. These findings indicate that glucose induces lipid peroxidation and alters the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver slices. The decreased glutathione content and glutathione S-transferase activity may be the reason for increased lipid peroxides.