Lipid peroxides and the diet-induced Shwartzman reaction

Abstract

Fractions of oxidized cod liver oil previously found to produce experimental eclampsia have been shown to have high concentrations of lipid peroxides in the more potent fractions. Pregnant rats fed fractions VI and VII derived from molecular distillations of oxidized cod liver oil had increased amounts of lipid peroxides in their kidneys, livers, and placentas. The erythrocytes of these animals lysed under the stresses of hydrogen peroxide diffusion and dialuric acid in a manner similar to that of known vitamin E deficient animals. It is concluded that a state of relative vitamin E deficiency exists in these toxemic rats and that the deficiency of the antioxidant properties of vitamin E may be the basis of cellular damage leading to the eclamptic state.