[Effect of tetracycline antibiotics on lipid peroxidation]

The experiments with albino rats showed that tetracyclines used in high doses (up to 0.5 g/kg bw) increased peroxidation of lipid unsaturated fatty acids of the liver cell membranes. This was evident from the increased content of malonic dialdehyde and diene conjugates in the homogenates of the liver and blood. The prooxidant effect was most characteristic of chlortetracycline and, to a less measure, of tetracycline and oxytetracycline. It is suggested that increased lipid peroxidation plays a definite role in the pathogenesis of the liver tetracycline affections.