POSTISCHEMIC ACCUMULATION OF THE LIPID PEROXIDATION PRODUCT 4-HYDROXYNONENAL IN RAT SMALL INTESTINE

Abstract 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation was determined in rat jejunal mucosa. HNE was extracted as the dinitrophenylhydrazone derivati from the tissue, partially separated from other carbonyl compounds by thin-layer chromatography and measured by HPLC. During reperfusion of the small intestine following an ischemic period of 60 minutes a marked increase of the tissue concentration of HNE was observed. The mucosal HNE level passed a maximum value of 3.0±0.5 μ M 10 min after the onset of reperfusion in comparison with 0.7±0.2 μ M as initial value. The increased tissue level of the highly cytotoxic 4-hydroxyalkenal is suggested to be involved in the reperfusion induced morphological and biochemical changes of the small intestine.