Halogenated hydrocarbon and hydroperoxide-induced peroxidation in rat tissue slices.

Tissue slices were used to compare relative peroxidation capacity of bromotrichloromethane (BrCCl3) and t-butyl hydroperoxide (BHP) by measurement of both peroxidation products and biochemical indices of damage. In liver and testes slices, BHP increased thiobarbituric acid reactive-substances (TBARS) and total aldehydes, measured as cyclohexanedione-reactive substances (CHDRS), to a greater extent than did an equimolar amount of BrCCl3. GSH was decreased more by BHP than by BrCCl3. Neither compound released lactate dehydrogenase or glutamic-pyruvic transaminase from liver slices. Treatment of rats with cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, increased the total CHDRS in liver slices and medium after incubation with BHP or BrCCl3. HPLC of the CHDRS showed hexanal and propanal increased to the greatest extent. The hydroperoxide, BHP, which does not require metabolism to an active species, was a better initiator of peroxidation than the halogenated hydrocarbon, BrCCl3, which must be metabolized to a radical species before it can initiate peroxidation.