Effect of oxidants on small intestinal brush border membranes and colonic apical membranes--a comparative study

This study compares composition of the rat small intestinal brush border membranes (BBM) and colonic apical membranes (CAM) and their susceptibility to in vitro exposure to various oxidants. Differences were observed between BBM and CAM in their lipid composition, sugar content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. BBM and CAM were exposed to superoxide generated by xanthine+xanthine oxidase (X-XO) or peroxides such as tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and alterations in ALP activity, peroxidation parameters and membrane lipids were analyzed. Exposure of BBM and CAM to superoxide resulted in decrease in ALP activity and increase in peroxidation parameters such as protein carbonyl content, malondialdehyde and conjugated diene. Superoxide exposure also resulted in lipid alterations specifically in certain phospholipids. These alterations were prevented either by superoxide dismutase or by allopurinol. Peroxides did not have any significant effect. These results suggest that both BBM and CAM are susceptible to superoxide, which can bring about peroxidation and degradation of membrane lipids specifically, certain phospholipids.