Cholesterol as target of Fe–NTA-induced lipid peroxidation in rat tissues

Intraperitoneal injection of the iron–chelate, ferric–nitrilotriacetate (Fe–NTA), induces renal proximal tubular damage associated with oxidative damage in vivo. A sub-lethal dose of Fe–NTA (15 mg Fe/kg body weight) was administered IP to rats; animals were sacrificed and liver, kidney and plasma were collected 1–4 h after injection. In response to the Fe–NTA administration, there were significant time-dependent reductions of the levels of total lipids, cholesterol and total unsaturated fatty acids, and a rise in the concentrations of conjugated dienes, 7-ketocholesterol and fatty acids hydroperoxides, showing a pattern inversely correlated in plasma, kidney and liver. Cholesterol level decreased significantly from 1 h after injection in the kidney and 3–4 h in the plasma and liver of treated rats. This is the first report on cholesterol reduction and accumulated 7-ketocholesterol in the tissues of rats treated with Fe–NTA as a consequence of lipid peroxidation.