An assay for superoxide dismutase activity in mammalian tissue homogenates

During the course of measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat breast tissue, interferences in the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and cytochrome c assay systems were noted. These interferences inhibit accurate measurement of SOD activity in breast tissues, necessitating the development of a new NBT-based assay that includes compounds capable of inhibiting tissue specific interferences. The most effective compounds were metal chelators that were also electron transport chain inhibitors. Bathocuproine sulfonate (BCS) was the most effective of these compounds. The inclusion of BCS in the NBT assay system was shown to make the accurate measurement of SOD activity in tissues with interferences possible.