Changes in Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Environment of Spinal Fluid with The Use of Bupivacaine for Spinal Anesthesia

The objective of this study was to determine if bupivacaine has any effects on the antioxidant defence system and in lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid substance (TBARS) of spinal fluid. The experiment was carried out on 15 male clinically healthy, 3-4 years old, male Tuj ram weighing an average 56±5 kg. Eight ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was used for the induction of spinal anesthesia (SA). To measure the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx; EC: 1.11.1.9) and the levels of vitamine E in spinal fluid, samples were taken from the subarachnoid (intrathecal) space before anaesthesia (0. min) and at 5, 15, and 60 min. after anaesthesia. The levels of TBARS slightly increased at 5 min. after spinal injection of bupivacaine and this increase continued trougout anesthesia (P<0.001). Vitamin E levels were decreased at 5 min. after anesthesia (P<0.001) and this level recovered to control levels at 30 min. after bupivacaine injection. The activity of GSHPx and the levels of GSH in spinal fluid increased continually 5 min. after administration of bupivacain (P<0.001). In conclusion, we found that while spinally injection of bupivacaine increased free radical levels in spinal fluid may be supported antioxidant environment of spinal fluid during anesthesia.