Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 68, 119–126 (2000) doi:10.1006/pest.2000.2505, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on The Effect of Lindane on the Lipid Peroxidation of Microsomes and Mitochondria Isolated from Liver and Heart of Columba livia Ana M. Gutie ´rrez,* Guillermo R. Reboredo,* Ce ´sar J. Arcemis,² and Angel Catala´² *Ca ´tedra de Fisiologia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo and ² Ca ´tedra de Bioquı ´mica, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CC 296, 1900 La Plata, Argentina Received February 18, 2000; accepted June 26, 2000 The effect of lindane treatment on the nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation of microsomes and mitochondria isolated from liver and heart of the rock dove, Columba livia, was studied. Fatty acid composition of liver was drastically changed by lindane treatment. Percentages of C18:1n9 and C16:1n7 fatty acids strongly decreased and percentages of 20:4n6 significantly increased. An increase of C18:2n6 and C22:6n3 was also observed in pigeon liver microsomes after lindane treatment After incubation of liver microsomes or mitochondria in an ascorbate–Fe 2+ system it was observed that the total cpm/mg protein originated from light emission: chemiluminescence was significantly higher in the lindane group than in the control. Lindane at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for a period of 6 days increased the liver microsomal content of cytochrome P450 by 100%. As compared with native, in peroxidized organelles the values of C18:2n6 and C20:4n6 decreased significantly. These changes were more pronounced in organelles derived from lindane- treated doves. Changes in light emission and in fatty acid composition were not observed when heart mitochondria obtained from control and lindane groups were lipid peroxidized. However, fatty acid composi- tion of heart microsomes was drastically changed by lindane treatment. Thus, percentages of C18:1n9 and C16:1n7 fatty acids strongly decreased and percentages of 18:2n6 significantly increased. After incubation of heart microsomes in an ascorbate–Fe 2+ system it was observed that the total cpm/mg protein originated from light emission: chemiluminescence was significantly higher in the lindane group than in the control, with a considerable decrease of linoleic acid C18:2n6.  2000 Academic Press INTRODUCTION superoxide radical generation and a significant increase in indicators of lipid peroxidation. Con- Lindane (-hexaclorocyclohexane) is an comitantly, lindane intoxication induces a important pesticide that can be accumulated in derangement of some antioxidant mechanisms lipid bilayers, where it induces changes in lipid of the liver cell, including decreased superoxide composition and membrane activity (1, 2). Per- dismutase and catalase activities and alterations sistent organochlorine residues such as hexa- in reduced glutathione content. The time course chorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, study of the changes in hepatic lipid peroxidation chlorocyclodienes, and DDT have been found and antioxidant parameters are closely interre- in the uropygial gland, the adipose tissue, breast lated and coincide with the onset and progression muscle, and the liver, heart, and lung tissues of of morphological lesions (9–14). The fatty acid wild birds (3–7). We have previously studied composition of biological membranes appear to the lindane distribution and fatty acid profiles be responsible, at least in part, for the lipid per- of uropygial gland and liver of Columba livia oxidation process. It has been shown that the after pesticide treatment (8). Lindane is metabo- rate of cellular lipid peroxidation increases expo- lized by liver microsomal enzymes to a variety nentially with the number of bis allylic positions of metabolites, which are susceptible to conjuga- (15). Thus, rod outer segments prepared from tion for proper elimination. In addition, the inter- bovine retina are membranes enriched in docosa- action of lindane with the liver tissue results in hexaenoic acid, C22:6n3, and are very sensible the induction of the microsomal cytochrome P- 450 system, together with enhanced rates of to lipid peroxidation (16). Many studies have 119 0048-3575/00 $35.00 Copyright  2000 by Academic Press All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.