The antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in lung tissue were quantitated in vitro by measurement of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactants, pentane production and lipid peroxides following either an iron/ascorbate or a xanthine/xanthine oxidase oxidant stress. Lung homogenates were obtained from newborn rabbits treated intravenously with either 10 or 100 mg/kg of either alpha-tocopherol or alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The animals were killed 5 min after dosing to minimize the conversion of alpha-tocopheryl acetate to alpha-tocopherol. Lung homogenates from animals treated with alpha-tocopherol had decreased concentrations of TBA reactants and pentane production after incubation with either oxidant stress compared to lung homogenate from animals treated with alpha-tocopheryl acetate or vehicle alone. Lipid peroxide concentrations were no different in homogenates from alpha-tocopherol or alpha-tocopheryl acetate treated animals. Correlations between antioxidant activity and tissue concentrations of alpha-tocopherol indicate 50% inhibition is achieved with 30-100 micrograms/g lung tissue. In vitro addition of alpha-tocopherol required concentrations between 100 and 200 micrograms/g to reduce lipid peroxidation by 50%.