Antioxidant defenses and its modulation by iron in carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats.

The concentration of endogenous antioxidants has been studied in rats with a carrageenan-induced granuloma. This animal model of inflammation allowed us to study the antioxidant defenses and the oxidative stress in plasma and in the site of inflammation (exudate) and their modulation by the levels of iron in the organism after iron-dextran or desferrioxamine administration. In inflamed rats without supplementary treatment, an interrelation between urate, ascorbate and vitamin E levels has been observed and it appears to be an important mechanism to prevent the depletion of the antioxidants. Further, the sulphydryl groups, caeruloplasmin and retinol also contribute to the defense in this experimental model. Iron overload increases the production of malondialdehyde and decreases some antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and SH groups but, on the other hand, it raises the levels of urate and caeruloplasmin. However, the protective effect of desferrioxamine has not been observed, and in our conditions this may be due to the induced mobilization of iron. Our results show that antioxidants have an important role in the prevention of lipid peroxidation by free radicals produced during inflammatory processes. This protective effect depends on the stage of inflammation.