Lipid peroxidation in lung of rat stressed by immobilization: effects of vitamin E supplementation

This study was carried out to examine the possibility of initiation of lipid peroxidation in the lung of Wistar albino male rats stressed by immobilization. The effects of vitamin E supplementation were also investigated. We found that immobilization of rats with normal pulmonary content of vitamin E caused lipid peroxidation in the lung. Decrease of the lung content of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E was also established. The immobilization-induced changes of all of these parameters were significantly inhibited by vitamin E injection (100 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days. A possible sequence of events leading to the initiation of lipid peroxidation and lung cell membrane damage in rats stressed by immobilization is discussed.