The influence of rich-in-cholesterol diet and fluoride ions contained in potable water upon the concentration of malondialdehyde and the activity of selected antioxidative enzymes in rabbit liver.

Two experiments have been carried out, each on 18 (male) rabbits of the New Zealand breed. In each of them, animals were divided into three groups of six: control group, cholesterol group (CH), and cholesterol + fluoride group (CH+F). Experimental hypercholesterolemia has been induced in the animals with the diet enriched with 0.5 and 2 g% of cholesterol/100 g of fodder/24 h. The rabbits from CH+F groups have also been administered fluoride ions contained in drinking water (3 mg F(-)/kg of body mass/24 h). The influence of fluoride ions upon the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), mitochondrial enzyme (MnSOD), cytoplasmatic enzyme (ZnCuSOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), has been examined in liver of rabbits. An increase (in comparison with cholesterol groups) in the concentration of MDA in both (CH+F) groups in rabbit liver has been noted. Moreover, a decrease (statistically significant) of SOD and MnSOD has been found in cholesterol groups, as well as in groups (CH+F) in comparison with control group. Furthermore, a decrease in the activity of SOD under the influence of F(-) together with increased activity of MnSOD (statistically significant in comparison with cholesterol groups) have been observed. The activity of ZnCuSOD increased in statistically significant manner in (CH) groups vs control group and decreased (statistically significantly in relation to cholesterol groups) under the influence of F(-).