[Lipid peroxidation intensity during periodic hypoxia and the protective effect of pyrazidole]

The effect of 3- and 10-day intermittent hypoxia corresponding to the altitude of 5000 m above the sea level (4 hrs daily) has been studied. The increase in the content of brain and lung diene conjugates and Schiff bases indicative of the increase in the rate of lipid peroxidation has been shown to be associated with hypoxia. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increases in the brain under 3-day hypoxia and decreases considerably in the brain and the lung under 10-day hypoxia in comparison with 3-day hypoxia. Administration of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pyrazidol normalizes the content of diene conjugates in the lung and that of Schiff bases in the brain under 3-day hypoxia as well as prevents completely the increase in the rate of lipid peroxidation under 10-day hypoxia. The activity of SOD increases in the brain and the lung of pyrazidol-protected animals under 3-day hypoxia. Pyrazidol administration under 10-day hypoxia prevents the SOD activity decrease in the brain. The protective effect of pyrazidol under intermittent hypoxia is discussed.