Carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation: a spin trapping study.

It has been suggested that the active species responsible for carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation is trichloromethyl radical ( . CCl3). Direct evidence for the existence of this reactive species can be obtained by spin trapping techniques, however, there are conflicting reports as to the identity of this free radical trapped. We have found that upon addition of carbon tetrachloride to a mixture of rat hepatic microsomes, NADPH and the spin trap, alpha (4-pyridinyl-1-oxide)-N-butyl nitrone (4-POBN) an electron paramagnetic resonance (epr) spectrum appeared. This spectrum was identical to that observed in the absence of carbon tetrachloride, except for enhanced rate of formation. We were able to identify this free radical, using model systems as a lipid peroxyl radical (LOO . ).