Absence of in vivo lipid peroxidation in CdCl2-treated rats as measured by exhaled pentane

We have used a new sensitive and non-invasive method, measuring exhaled pentane production, to evaluate in vivo lipid peroxidation (LP) in rats treated i.p. with CdCl2. Pentane, a by-product of LP, was measured 2, 6, 12, 24, 72 h and 8, 15, 22 days after treatment. No increase in pentane production was detected at these time periods for cadmium (Cd) doses reported to increase malondialdehyde (MDA) in major organs such as liver and lungs. This suggests that Cd cannot induce LP in vivo, but a prooxidant state which fragilized the tissues. Cd could also cause changes either in the production or in the metabolism of LP by-products (e.g. pentane).