Oxygen dependence of CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in vitro and in vivo

Rat liver microsomes showed an atypical oxygen dependence of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced malondialdehyde formation with a maximum at ca. 7% O2 and a minimum at ca. 15% O2. Rats treated with CCl4 expired less ethane under high oxygen concentrations and more ethane under low oxygen concentrations. The initiation of CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in the liver would appear to be influenced by the oxygen concentrations present in the hepatocytes.