Background: The role of reactive oxygen species in injury to cells lining the gastrointestinal tract has gained importance in recent times, and their role in intestinal diseases has been studied.
Methods: In this study colonic epithelial cells isolated from the rat colon were exposed in vitro to various oxidants such as menadione, xanthine-xanthine oxidase, hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, separately. Changes in cell viability, thiol status, and the antioxidant enzyme activities were measured.
Results: Colonocytes were found to be sensitive to menadione and were not affected by various other oxidants. Decrease in cell viability, depletion of reduced glutathione and protein thiol, and change in antioxidant enzyme activities were observed when the cells were exposed to menadione.
Conclusions: This study suggests that, unlike other cells, colonocytes are susceptible only to certain selective oxidants.