Vitamin E improves membrane lipid alterations induced by CCl4 intoxication

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Abstract
The effect of pretreatment with vitamin E on membrane lipid alterations produced by the acute intoxication with CCl4 was studied. Rats were treated with an oral dose of CCl4 (0.4 g per 100 g body weight) and 24 h later the animals were sacrificed and liver plasma membranes isolated. After extraction, the membrane lipids were analysed by thin‐layer chromatography and quantitated by densitometry. The phospholipid: protein ratio determined in plasma membranes of CCl4‐treated rats was almost three‐fold higher than that found in control animals. Sphingomyelin (Sph) and phospharidyl choline (PC) increased, while phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) decreased in the plasma membranes isolated from the CCl4–treated group. Animals pretreated for 7 days with a daily dose of vitamin E (200 IU per kg body weight) showed a lower increase in the phospholipid: protein ratio (two‐fold) and the changes in Sph, PC and PE were lower. When the rats were pretreated with a higher dose of vitamin E (400 IU per kg body weight) for the same period, the lipid composition of plasma membrane was normal. These results indicate that vitamin E can protect against the alterations induced by CCl4 on the liver membranes. The protective action of vitamin E against CCl4 membrane damage is probably associated with its antioxidant properties.