Brain lipid peroxidation induced by postischemic reoxygenation in vitro: effect of vitamin E

The aerobic incubation of brain after a period of ischemia induced lipid peroxidation. The effect was greatest in vitamin E-deficient rats, intermediate in vitamin E-normal rats, and least in animals supplemented with vitamin E. In contrast, nitrogen incubation following ischemia produced a small effect only in the vitamin E-deficient animals. It appears that reoxygenation is required for lipid peroxides to accumulate in the brain. However, a trace of oxygen remaining during extreme ischemic hypoxia may be sufficient to cause slow propagation of free radical reactions when the vitamin E level is low.