[The action of insulin on the antioxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation in the erythrocytes].

The hormonal regulation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the status of the body antioxidant system has been studied insufficiently. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of insulin on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase--SOD and catalase--CT) and at the same time on the level of LPO products in erythrocytes. Cells were incubated with insulin at different concentrations in own plasma for 2 h at 37 degrees C. It was shown that the incubation of erythrocytes with insulin in physiological concentrations (16.5-80 microU/ml) led to CT increased activity and made no effect on the content of conjugated dienes and dieneketones. A high concentration of the hormone (1000 microU/ml) caused an increase in the content of LPO products and did not influence CT activity. Changes in SOD activity were undetectable with regard to the experimental conditions. Thus, insulin regulating action on CT activity and LPO processes depends on insulin concentration.