Free Radical-Induced Liver Injury. II. Effects of Intraperitoneally Administered 2, 2′-Azobis (2-Amidinopropane) Dihydrochloride on the Fatty Acid Profiles of Hepatic Triacylglycerol and Phospholipids

Liver injury induced by the radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) was examined by the analysis of lipids in the liver of rats. Increased triacylglycerol (TAG) was found in the liver within 24 hr following injection of these drugs. In AAPH-treated and CCI4-treated rats, it was 2.1 and 1.8 times that in the controls, respectively. TAG-palmitate and -oleate were found at particularly increased levels, while polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles of hepatic phospholipids were essentially the same for the treated and untreated rats. It is evident from these findings that radical initiators cause no decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids in hepatic lipids, but accumulate TAG in the liver. Such a condition is the equivalent of liver injury in the rats in whose diets vitamin E has long been deficient.