The effect of cholesterol feeding on lipid peroxide, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase in the liver of rats.

Liver cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride, lipid peroxide and glutathione levels as well as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activities were determined in rats fed a high-cholesterol (2%, w/w), high-cholic acid (0.5%, w/w) diet for 3 months. Cholesterol feeding caused an increase in hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but no change was observed in hepatic phospholipid levels. In addition, a significant increase in hepatic lipid peroxide levels and a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activities have been observed. However, hepatic glutathione content after cholesterol feeding remained unchanged. These results show that cholesterol feeding leads to the stimulation of hepatic lipid peroxidation as well as impairment of glutathione-related enzyme activities in rats.