| Abstract: | Lipid peroxidation, which is promoted in animal tissues by a variety of toxic agents, is believed to be associated with disruption of cell membranes and loss of activity of membrane-bound enzymes. While the process of lipid peroxidation has been well studied in mammals, only a few non-mammalian species have been examined.1 In the present study, in vitro assays for lipid peroxidation were performed using microsomes prepared from the livers of rats (Rattus rattus) and a marine fish, mullet (Mugil cephalus). Although lipid peroxidation was observed in microsomes prepared from both mullet and rat tissues, and was stimulated by xenobiotics, the mechanisms of generation appeared to be different. In contrast to rats, NADH was much more effective than NADPH in stimulating lipid peroxidation in mullet liver microsomes. The results suggest that NADH-dependent, as well as NADPH-dependent, lipid peroxidation may be important in vertebrate tissues. |
