Dietary vitamin E and the effects of inhaled nitrogen dioxide on rat lungs
Ramazzotto, L.J.; Engstrom, R.
Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry 5(4): 226-234
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5429 PMID: 1175582 Document Number: 94069
Groups of rats were given diets deficient or adequate in vitamin E or supplemented with alpha -tocopherol. Some rats from each group were exposed for 2 h to air containing high concentrations of NO2. Comparison of wet and dry lung weights did not indicate that exposure to the gas induced oedema. The proportion of lung weight to total bodyweight increased in all animals; the lipid content paralleled the amount of available alpha -tocopherol in the diet, but was diminished by exposure to NO2. Dietary alpha -tocopherol supplements did not protect lung lipids from oxidation; total peroxides were similar in all the groups. Inflation and deflation compliance measurements were greater for both exposed and unexposed supplemented animals than for the adequate and deprived groups.