Effect of α-tocopherol on the cardiac antioxidant defense system and atherogenic lipids in cigarette smoke-inhaling mice

The present study was designed to evaluate the role of alpha-tocopherol (AT) on the cardiac antioxidant defense system and atherogenic lipid profile in cigarette smoke (CS)-inhaling mice. CS exposure for 10 wk resulted in an increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in heart. Supplementation with AT reduced LPO and restored GSH levels to almost those of normals. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased after CS inhalation. However, supplementation with AT resulted in reversing the increase in GSH-Px and GR. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) remained unaltered in all the groups studied. Levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) increased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels decreased in serum following CS inhalation. Supplementation with AT reduced the levels of LDL-C and TG. On the other hand, AT-fed animals showed an increase in HDL-C levels on CS exposure. Based on the results it appears that AT protects the heart from CS-induced peroxidative damage and has antiatherogenic properties.