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The effect of vitamin E on cytotoxicity induced by Na2CrO4 was evaluated by colony-forming assay using Chinese hamster V-79 cells. Pre-treatment with alpha-tocopherol succinate (vitamin E) for 24 h prior to exposure to Na2CrO4 resulted in a marked decrease in the cytotoxicity caused by this compound. The reduction of chromate-induced cytotoxicity was observed at all concentrations of Na2CrO4 (5-15 microM), and the protective effect increased with higher concentrations of vitamin E (5-25 microM). The level of glutathione reductase activity, which is capable of reducing chromate, was not affected by cellular pre-treatment with vitamin E. However, Na2CrO4 decreased glutathione reductase activity in a concentration-dependent fashion (5-15 microM) and pretreatment with vitamin E resulted in a significant recovery of enzyme activity suppressed by Na2CrO4, suggesting that this enzyme inhibition is linked to the cytotoxicity of this metal. Electron spin resonance studies showed that a paramagnetic chromium (V) complex was formed in cells treated with Na2CrO4, and that cellular pre-treatment with vitamin E reduced the formation of this chromium (V) intermediate. These results indicate that vitamin E protects cells from chromate-induced cytotoxicity as well as from enzyme inhibition, and also suggest that Na2CrO4-induced cytotoxicity is mediated by the generation of a reactive intermediate.

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