The protective action of alpha-tocopherol on the white matter lipids during moderate hypoxia in rats

Folia Neuropathol. 2005;43(2):103-8.

Abstract

Hypoxia and ischemia acting on the brain cause alterations of the level of lipids and sterols. Famile 3.0-3.5-month-old rats were used for the experiment. They were given alpha-tocopherol in the dose of 11.43 mg/kg of body weight through seven days, then underwent hypoxia (7% of oxygen in the breathing mixture) and myelin was isolated in four times after experiment: 4, 24 hours, 14 days and 2 months after experiment. Three lipids groups were isolated that are neutral lipids, galactolipids and phospholipids. They were quantitatively analyzed with spectrophotocolorimetry. The obtained results indicate that vitamin E administration to animals does not cause significant changes of brain lipids levels. However, alpha-tocopherol administred before moderate hypoxia balances the concentrations of lisophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositide and cerebrosides with control level 2 months after experiment. Vitamin E changes in concentration of the myelin neutral lipids. Vitamin E administered before experimental moderate hypoxia stabilizes some membrane lipids and could be used in brain hypoxia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Colorimetry
  • Female
  • Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / prevention & control*
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Myelin Sheath / chemistry
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectrophotometry
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • alpha-Tocopherol