Pulmonary phospholipid changes induced by butylated hydroxy toluene, an antioxidant, in rats.

Butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), 800 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in corn oil and administered (ip) in a single injection to male rats, damaged the lung as indicated by an increase in lavage ACE, protein and LDH and caused a significant increase in phospholipid, particularly, phosphatidyl choline (PC) in lung lavage and extracellular surfactant. The plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity was inhibited leading to an increase in serum phospholipids and phosphatidyl choline. The results indicate that BHT-induced lung phospholipidosis may be attributed to an increase in surfactant phospholipids and/or due to the leakage of plasma phospholipids through damaged capillary membrane.