In a previous paper, the acute and chronic toxicities on mice caused by autoxidized methyl linoleate were studied histopathologically. In that paper, we reported that the gross symptoms were observed in liver, lung and kidney. Especially, it was severe in small intestine. Marked symptoms were necrosis, fatty accumulation, and congestive hyperemia in tissues. This paper deals with the histopathological investigation of the protective effect of tocopherols (Toc) (
d-α,
dl-α and
d-γ) on acute toxicity of autoxidized oils. Five diary oral doses 30mg/20g mouse/d of
d-α,
dl-α,
d-γ Toc and 60mg/d of
dl-α Toc were administered to male mice before the feeding of autoxidized methyl linoleate. Specimens of small intestine, liver, lung, and kidney were obtained from the dead and survived mice and microscopic examination was carried out. As the results, mice were protected from the acute toxicity of autoxidizted oils by prefeeding of tocopherols. Survival time and survivor increased and symptoms induced by autoxidized oils in tissues decreased remarkably.
d-α Toc showed better protective effect than other tocopherols, however, twice dose of
dl-α Toc was the most effective among groups. The effect of tocopherols against mortality and symptoms was not parallel to their antioxidant actions. These results suggest that the protective effect of tocopherols is not only due to their antioxidative activity but also by their physiological actions.
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