[The effect of piracetam on lipid peroxidation in the rat brain].

The effect of piracetam on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the rat brain was investigated. Piracetam was shown not to catalyze LPO and not to stimulate production of active forms of oxygen but to increase LPO only in the presence of traces of transition of metal ions. In all probability, the reason of this is the capacity of piracetam to chelate these metals. In this case their catalytic activity with respect to LPO increases. The performed studies demonstrate that the observed increase in LPO in the rat brain during the use of piracetam is an artefact due to the presence of traces of transition metal ions.