Affiliations: Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain | Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA | Laboratorio Andaluz de Biología, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
Note: [] Correspondence and reprints: Dr J.M. Villalba, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. San Alberto Magno s/n, E‐14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Abstract: We have studied the effects of dietary depletion of vitamin E and selenium on endogenous ubiquinone‐dependent antioxidant system. Deficiency induced an increase in both coenzyme Q_{9} and Q_{10} in liver tissue, reaching a maximum between 4 and 7 weeks of deficient diet consumption. Cytochrome b_{5} reductase polypeptide was also enriched in membranes after 5 weeks of deficient diet consumption. Substantial DT‐diaphorase activity was found in deficient, but not in control plasma membranes. Deficient membranes were very sensitive to lipid peroxidation, although a great protection was observed after incubation with NAD(P)H. Our results show that liver cells can boost endogenous ubiquinone‐dependent protective mechanisms in response to deficiency in vitamin E and selenium.
Journal: Biofactors, vol. 9, no. 2-4, pp. 163-170, 1999
