RESUMO
Mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of vitamin E on the process of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in biological membranes are studied. Both alpha-tocopherol and its derivatives (a-tocopherylacetate, o- and p-tocopherylquinones possess no radical scavenging activity) inhibit non-enzymatic (Fe2+ + ascorbate)-induced LPO and prevent LPO-dependent inhibition of Ca2+ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes from skeletal muscles. The protective effect of alpha-tocopherylacetate, tocopherilquinones and partially of alpha-tocopherol is due to a stabilizing effect of these compounds on sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, registered by a decrease of fluidity of membrane lipid bilayer (probed by nitroxile radical TEMPO) and by a decrease of its passive permeability for Ca2+. Under the enzymatic NADPH-dependent LPO induction in rat liver microsomal fraction a strong inhibitory effect of tocopherylquinones is similar to the effect of other electron acceptors (methylnaphtoquinone, TEMPO) and is due to their ability to compete with LPO reaction for reducing equivalents in NADPH-dependent electron carriers wich results in the formation of hydroxy-derivatives having pronounced radical scavenging activity.
