[Effect of vitamin E on the oxidative metabolism of macrophages]

The oxidative metabolism of macrophages in vitamin E deficiency was studied on Aug-Lac strain rats. Vitamin E deficiency was shown to enhance luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of macrophages stimulated by opsonized zymosan. There was also an increase in microviscosity of macrophage membrane lipid phase, that was estimated with a fluorescent probe. The incubation of macrophages with dl-alpha-tocopherol led to the inhibition of macrophage chemiluminescence. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity was not affected by vitamin E deficiency.