Long-term NO2 exposure of mice in the presence and absence of vitamin E. II. Effect of glutathione peroxidase.

One hundred and twenty female mice fed diets containing various levels of vitamin E were continuously exposed to 0.5 ppm, 1.0 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and filtered air for 17 months. Blood, lung, and liver tissues were assayed for glutathione peroxidase (GSH-peroxidase) activity. Exposure to 0.5 ppm NO2 did not affect blood and lung GSH-peroxidase activity; 1.0 ppm NO2 exposure, however, caused suppression of the enzyme. A combination of vitamin E deficiency and 1.0 ppm NO2 exposure resulted in the lowest GSH-peroxidase activities in the blood and lung. High levels of vitamin E in the diet resulted in elevated GSH-peroxidase in the blood and lung. Liver GSH-peroxidase activity was unaffected by either dietary vitamin E or NO2 exposure. No inverse relationship was found between GSH-peroxidase levels and concentrations of organic solvent soluble lipofuscin pigments present in tissues.