Increased Vitamin E Content in the Lungs of Chronic Cigarette‐Smoked Rats

Abstract

Oxidative damage to the lung may be caused directly by the action of oxidants and free radicals in cigarette smoke, or indirectly by reactive oxygen species generated by alveolar macrophage and polymorphonuclear leukocytes following cigarette smoking.The status of vitamin E, a major biological antioxidant, may determine the cellular susceptibility to the effects of cigarette smoking.'We have recently found that the levels of vitamin E in the lungs of guinea pigs were significantly increased following exposure to cigarette smoke?In the present research the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on the status of vitamin E was studied in rats.