Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain Cortical Slices as Measured by the Thiobarbituric Acid Test

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Abstract
Malonaldehyde formation by cortical brain slices from rat brain was determined as a function of incubation time and of O2 pressure. This substance, a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, was detected by the thiobarbituric acid test. Significant amounts of malonaldehyde were formed by brain slices during incubation in the 0.2 (air) to 10 atm O2 range and a portion was released into the medium. The rate of malonaldehyde formation was the highest during the first 10 min. Elevation of O2 pressure above 1 atm caused further increments in malonaldehyde production with kinetic properties similar to 1 atm pressure, but the increments per additional O2 pressure were diminishing. The formation of a given amount of malonaldehyde can be expressed as a function of atm O2 .times. min. This function has the shape of a saturation curve approaching a maximum at .apprx. 300 atm .times. min. Extensive lipid peroxidation apparently occurs in brain slices under standard incubation conditions.