Lipid peroxidation in presence of ebselen

Lipid peroxidation is initiated by cell damage. After homogenisation of porcine heart tissue in aqueous solution we observed the same lipid peroxidation products as detected after heart infarction. We used this observation to study the influence of ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzoisoselenazol-3-(2H)-one) on the generation of oxidatively derived monohydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxyaldehydes, typical lipid peroxidation (LPO) products. Heart tissue was homogenised before and after enzyme destruction and with addition of ebselen. The obtained LPO products were analysed by GC/MS after appropriate derivatisation and quantified by using internal standards. The amount of monohydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxyaldehydes increased considerably in the porcine heart homogenates in which the enzymes were kept active. Addition of ebselen caused an additional significant increase of hydroxy fatty acids, while the increase of aldehydic compounds was less. These results confirm the glutathione peroxidase-like activity of ebselen but demonstrate also that it does not prevent lipid peroxidation.