Effect of Some Heavy Metal Salts on Lipid Peroxidation After Acute Intoxication and Subchronic Exposure

Abstract

In experiments on male Wistar albino rats, the effect of different heavy metal salts on microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LPO) was studied. It was found that 24 h after acute intoxication, the salts of lead Pb, bismuth Bi, and tin Sn decreased the oxidative ability of microsomal membranes, while the salts of copper Cu, mercury Hg, nickel Ni, and arsen As had no effect. No correlation was found between the effects of these metal salts on LPO and their influence on the activity of the liver monooxygenases. However, 30-day treatment with the salts of cobalt Co, cadmium Cd, and zinc Zn increased the activity of the mixed function oxidases and the cytochrome P-450 content. The same metal salts inhibited the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) but did not change the quantity of the fluorescent products. The salts of Hg and Ni had no effect on the rat liver monooxygenases. They did not change LPO after 30-day treatment.Key wordsHeavy metal saltsAcute intoxicationSubchronic exposureLipid peroxidationFluorescent products