Serum lipid peroxidation markers are correlated with those in brain samples in different stress models.

Objective: Stress can stimulate increased production of oxygen radicals. We investigated the correlations between serum levels of lipid peroxidation markers and those in brain samples in different stress models.

Methods: Animals (n = 96) were divided equally into eight groups: a control group and groups treated with vitamin E (Vit E); exposed to immobilisation stress; exposed to immobilisation stress and treated with Vit E; exposed to cold stress; exposed to cold stress and treated with Vit E; exposed to both immobilisation and cold stress; and a final group exposed to both immobilisation and cold stress and treated with Vit E. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) in brain samples and levels of TBARS, corticosterone, conjugated dienes (CD), lipids, and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity in serum were analysed.

Results: Serum corticosterone (p < 0.001), CD (p < 0.05), lipid (p < 0.05) levels, and brain TBARS (p < 0.05) levels were significantly higher in all stress groups than in controls, and the elevated levels were reversed in the Vit E-treated stress groups (p < 0.05). Serum PON1 activity was not different among the groups (p > 0.05). Serum TBARS levels increased significantly in all stress groups (p < 0.05), but this elevation was only reversed in the group exposed to both immobilisation and cold stress and treated with Vit E (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These results suggest that serum levels of lipid peroxidation markers can be determined readily and may be useful as indicators to evaluate the effects of oxidative stress in the brain.