Chronic Toxicity of Methyl Linoleate Hydroperoxide for the Rabbit

Summary Small quantities of purified methyl linoleate hydroperoxide (MLHP) were administered by daily intravenous injection (50 mg/day) or by continuous intravenous infusion (206 μg/min) to rabbits depleted of their vitamin E stores. After 10-14 days the injected animals exhibited fatty degeneration and necrosis of the liver, cre-atinuria and an increased incidence of muscular incoorduration. The creatinuria was prevented by large oral doses of vitamin E (100 mg/day) but sodium selenite had no effect on the creatinuria or the incidence of liver lesions. Infusion of MLHP for 26-30 hr led to an increased fragility of the red blood cells and a marked creatinuria. These results indicate that chronic administration of small quantities of MLHP leads to a more rapid destruction of vitamin E in the tissues and an accelerated appearance of deficiency symptoms.