Vanadyl- and vanadate-induced lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and in phosphatidylcholine suspensions.

Vanadyl (V(IV] was found to induce rapidly developing lipid peroxidation in intact and sonicated mitochondria as well as in phosphatidylcholine suspension. The ability of vanadate (V(V] to induce lipid peroxidation was much less pronounced compared to that of vanadyl. The peroxidative action of vanadate on phosphatidylcholine much increased in the presence of NADH and ascorbate. Preincubation of vanadate with glucose had the same effect. Vanadyl-induced lipid peroxidation was not essentially influenced by SOD, catalase and ethanol but was completely inhibited by butylated hydroxytoluene. All these effects of vanadyl and vanadate are thought to participate in the insulin-like and other biological actions of vanadium.