Hexachlorocyclohexane-induced changes in lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and glutathione content in chick liver.

An elevation in the level of lipid peroxides in nuclear, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of chick liver was recorded 6 hr after hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH; 50 mg/kg body wt., ip) treatment. The magnitude of increase remained more or less same even 24 hr after the pesticide treatment. Total glutathione content also increased by 6 hr of HCH treatment and did not change even 24 hr after the pesticide treatment. Protein content of crude homogenate and 10000 g supernatant decreased significantly 6 hr after the pesticide treatment. The magnitude of decrease was more or less same even 24 hr after the pesticide treatment. Although cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (expressed as units/mg protein) did not change 24 hr after HCH treatment, a small but significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity was recorded 6 hr after HCH treatment. On the other hand when activities were expressed as units/mg tissue wt., a significant decrease in the activities of both the enzymes was recorded 6 and 24 hr after HCH treatment. Therefore, the decrease in the activities of both the enzymes in response to HCH in chick liver may be due to decrease in tissue protein content in general rather than specific decrease in the activities of the enzymes.