X-Message-Number: 6986 Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 19:50:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: Inhibiting Glycerol Toxicity Note: Permission is here given for any cryonics related newsletter to publish this little article if they so desire. INHIBITING GLYCEROL TOXICITY By Doug Skrecky Glycerol is metabolized to formaldehyde by living tissue. In isolated rat liver microsomes BHT, DMSO, mannitol, SOD, trolox and vitamin E had no effect on glycerol catalyzed formaldehyde production. However at a dosage of 0.01 mM the iron chelators desferrioxamine, DTPA and EDTA as well as the antioxident propyl gallate inhibited formaldehyde production by 95%, 88%, 86% and 91% respectively. Since the lipid soluble propyl gallate alone has the ability to readily penetrate cell membranes it is the clear first choice to protect against glycerol toxicity. It appears that the addition of propyl gallate to all glycerol solutions currently used by cryobiologists and cryonics companies is mandated. Reference: "Role of Iron, Hydrogen Peroxide and Reactive Oxygen Species in Microsomal Oxidation of Glycerol to Formaldehyde" Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics Vol.285 No.1 83-89 February 15,1991 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6986