Effects of acrolein on rat liver antioxidant defense system.

Effect of acrolein (2.5 mg/kg body wt/day) on the rat liver antioxidant defense system was investigated. Following 45 days of acrolein exposure, the levels of glutathione, ascorbic acid and the activity of catalase were decreased whereas the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were increased. The increase in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the acrolein treated rats showed oxidative damage. The results indicate that acrolein interferes with the antioxidant defense system of rat liver.