ACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN THE LIVER OF RATS SUBMITTED TO CHRONIC HYPOBARIC HYPOXIA

The spontaneous in situ liver chemiluminescence of female rats submitted to 4,400 m (simulated altitude) for 2 mo and of their corresponding controls at sea level was determined as an approach to the measurement of the intracellular steady-state concentrations of singlet oxygen and oxygen free radicals. Spontaneous liver chemiluminescence was decreased by approximately 40% in hypoxic rats, whereas CCl4-induced chemiluminescence was unchanged. Liver mitochondria isolated from hypoxic rats showed a 53% decreased rate of H2O2 production and an increased content of cytochrome b (36%), with normal content of cytochromes c1, c, and a-a3. Superoxide dismutase showed a 26% decrease in activity, whereas catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not significantly decreased by this extent of hypoxia. Cytochrome P-450 and glutathione contents were unchanged. There were no significant differences in the hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence (an estimation of tissue chain-breaker antioxidants) of homogenates, mitochondria, and microsomes. Results suggest that in chronic hypoxia there is a lower rate of generation of active oxygen species in liver, leading to a decreased steady-state concentration of singlet oxygen.