Liver lipid peroxidation induced by cholesterol and its treatment with a dihydroquinoline type free radical scavenger in rabbits.

Lipid peroxidation has been induced by means of an atherogenic diet causing hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, increased LDL and decreased HDL serum fractions in addition to the fatty degeneration, vacuolization of the liver cells and accumulation of malondialdehyde in the liver. Increased release of acid phosphatase and N-beta-glucuronidase was also observed pointing to cholesterol-induced lysosomal membrane damage. In response to pretreatment with, and simultaneous administration of, 6,6'-methylene bis (2,2-dimethyl-4-methane sulphonic acid sodium salt-1,2-dihydroquinoline) the signs and symptoms of fatty liver degeneration, the tissue, plasma and platelet malondialdehyde concentrations and the LDL serum fraction significantly decreased and HDL serum fraction increased. Lisosomal membrane stability was restored, resulting in physiological acid phosphatase and N-beta-glucuronidase activities. The pathological and clinical aspects of lipid peroxidation in several diseases of the digestive organs and the suggested therapeutic uses of non-toxic radical scavengers have been outlined.