Lipid peroxidation: detection in vivo and in vitro through the formation of saturated hydrocarbon gases.

Saturated, short-chain hydrocarbon gases (ethane, propane, etc.--but not methane) are evolved during the spontaneous lipid peroxidation of mouse tissue slices or homogenates. A relatively-selective increase in either ethane or pentane was observed when either linolenic acid or linoleic acid, respectively, was added to tissue homogenates. When mice were challenged by injection of carbon tetrachloride or cumene hydroperoxide (two agents that induce a lipid peroxidative attack on liver), they exhaled ethane. The gas chromatographic detection and monitoring of hydrocarbon gases can serve as an index of lipid peroxidation in vivo.