Cytoprotection of vitamin E on hyperthermia-induced damage in bovine mammary epithelial cells

The protective effects of vitamin E (VE) against hyperthermia-induced damage in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) were studied. The structure of BMEC membrane was damaged by hyperthermia treatment. The VE (25 nmol/ml) efficiently increased cell viability and attenuated morphological damages in hyperthermia-treated BMEC. Compared with the control, VE significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase leakage and malondialdehyde formation in hyperthermia-treated BMEC. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase activity was increased significantly in the presence of VE. It is inferred that VE displayed cytoprotective effects on hyperthermia-induced damage in BMEC through increasing intracellular antioxidant levels and decreasing lipid peroxidation.