Radiation effects on membranes. I. Vitamin E deficiency and lipid peroxidation

• Published in: Radiation research 1979-12, Vol.80 (3), p.494-501
• Main Authors: Konings, A.W.T, Drijver, E.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell membranes; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Erythrocytes; Fatty acids; Glutathione - pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques; Intracellular Membranes - drug effects; Intracellular Membranes - metabolism; Intracellular Membranes - radiation effects; Irradiation; Lipids; Liver; Liver - metabolism; Membrane Lipids - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Peroxides - metabolism; Radiation Injuries, Experimental - complications; Radiation Injuries, Experimental - metabolism; Radiation tolerance; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Time Factors; Vitamin E; Vitamin E Deficiency - complications; Vitamin E Deficiency - metabolism; X-Rays
• ISSN: 0033-7587; 1938-5404
• DOI: 10.2307/3574991

Mice which had received a vitamin E-deficient diet from weaning on, were more sensitive to X irradiation than were normal mice, ${\rm LD}_{50/30}$ being decreased by 0.25 Gy. The vitamin E-deficient mice also showed an increased spleen shrinkage. The cellular membranes of the vitamin E-deficient mice were more vulnerable to lipid peroxidation. X irradiation in vivo shortened the lag period prior to rapid lipid peroxidation as measured in vitro. Injection of the mice with glutathione prior to X irradiation protected the membranes in the in vitro test of peroxidation capacity as was demonstrated by an extended lag period. The possible meaning of these results with respect to the concept that membranes may be important sites for radiation damage is discussed.