Stimulation of lipid peroxidation and impairment of glutathione-dependent defence system in the liver of rats repeatedly treated with carbon tetrachloride.

To study the effect of carbon tetrachloride treatment on hepatic lipid peroxidation and glutathione-dependent defence system, rats were injected with carbon tetrachloride (0.2 ml/kg body weight, i.p.) twice weekly for a period of 4 weeks. Carbon tetrachloride treatment caused a significant increase in hepatic lipid peroxide levels and significant decreases in hepatic glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activities. These results show that chronic carbon tetrachloride administration to rats leads to the stimulation of hepatic lipid peroxidation, which seems to be the consequence of impaired cellular defence by glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes.