Antioxidant defense system in lung of male and female rats: interactions with alcohol, copper, and type of dietary carbohydrate

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Prevents Ovarian Aging by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress in the Hens

Oxidative stress is an important inducement in ovarian aging which results in fecundity decline in human and diverse animals. As a potent antioxidant, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) was investigated to ameliorate chicken ovarian aging in this study. Firstly, ovarian antioxidant capacity of hens at different ages (90, 150, 280, and 580 days old) was compared to elucidate its age-related changes. Subsequently, a D-gal-induced (2.5 mg/mL) aging ovarian model was established and the cultured ovarian tissues were treated with GSPE at 5 μg/mL for 72 h to evaluate the putative attenuating effects of GSPE on ovarian aging. Meanwhile, ovaries of D280 (young) and D580 (old) were treated with GSPE for 72 h in culture to verify the protective effects of GSPE on natural aging ovary. The results showed that GSPE could rescue the antioxidant capacity decline by increasing the antioxidase activities and their gene expression in either D-gal-induced or natural aging ovaries. Moreover, GSPE could maintain the homeostasis between cell proliferation and apoptosis in the D-gal-induced and natural aging ovaries, as well as alleviate D-gal-induced nucleus chromatin condensation in the ovarian granulosa cells. In conclusion, GSPE treatment can effectively prevent the ovarian aging process in hens by reducing oxidative stress.

Gender differences in correlations between the content of elements in rain water and the frequency of hospitalization for arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and psoriasis in Opole Voivodship, Poland, during 2000-2002

The aim of this work is to show and give a plausible explanation to gender-dependent differences in correlations between the content of selected elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalization by reason of arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and psoriasis in the area of Opolskie Voivodeship, Poland, during the period 2000-2002. The elements analyzed were sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate. Hospitalization due to arterial hypertension was more frequent in women, whereas those for COPD and psoriasis were more frequent in men. In the case of women hospitalized for arterial hypertension, the correlations were low, except for zinc (r = 0.47) and for cadmium (r = 0.43). In men hospitalized for COPD, all of the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.4, except for phosphorus. The coefficients for nickel, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 and the remaining elements from 0.6 to 0.7. In women, the correlation was limited to five elements where the coefficient was r > 0.4 for chloride, calcium, nitrate, phosphorus, and chromium. In cases of hospitalization for psoriasis, the correlation in men was between 0.4 and 0.5 for chloride, phosphorus, copper, lead, and total nitrogen and greater than 5 for sulfate, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, nitrate, and ammonium nitrogen. The correlation in women was between 0.48 and 0.5 for ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus.

Fructose-enriched diet modifies antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE

High-fructose consumption in industrial countries has been shown to induce metabolic abnormalities or syndrome X. Changes in antioxidant defense are unknown in hypertension associated with metabolic disorders induced by high-fructose feeding.

METHODS

Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats were assigned to one of two groups; one received a fructose-enriched diet (60% fructose) and the other a starch diet. After a 13-wk diet period, total antioxidant status was assessed in the blood and liver by monitoring the rate of free radical-induced red blood cell hemolysis. Antioxidants (enzymes and vitamins) were determined in blood and liver. Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were also investigated in hepatic tissue.

RESULTS

Fructose-fed rats showed blood pressure values similar to that of control rats but had increased glycemia and insulinemia. The antioxidant capacity in the blood of the fructose-fed group represented by copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and ascorbic acid was lower. However, the fructose diet enhanced the total antioxidant capacity of liver correlated with increased antioxidant enzyme activities and retinol concentrations. Gutathione peroxidase mRNA expression was decreased in livers of spontaneously hypertensive rats fed the fructose diet.

CONCLUSION

Fructose feeding negatively affects antioxidant capacity in the blood of hypertensive rats but improves this capacity in the liver.

Dose response of ethanol on antioxidant defense system of liver, lung, and kidney in rat

This study investigated the alterations in levels of glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver, lung, and kidney of rats treated with acute doses of ethanol. Male Fisher-344 rats were randomly divided into four groups, and were treated as follows: (1) vehicle (saline) control; (2) ethanol 2 g/kg, p.o.; (3) ethanol 4g/kg, p.o.; and (4) ethanol 6 g/kg, p.o. The animals were sacrificed 1 h after treatment, and tissues were isolated and analyzed. The hepatic GSH levels significantly decreased (73, 68, and 66% of control) due to ethanol ingestion at 2, 4, and 6g/kg, respectively. The hepatic GSH/GSSG ratio also decreased with increasing doses indicating stress response due to ethanol. The hepatic SOD activity significantly decreased (70, 75 and 71% of control) with graded doses of ethanol ingestion. The hepatic CAT/SOD and GSH-Px+CAT/SOD ratios significantly increased (147, 169 and 177% of control) and (140, 167 and 178% of control), respectively with increasing doses of ethanol. In the lung, graded doses of ethanol increased GSH-Px activity (120, 114 and 141% of control) and decreased GR activity (98, 89 and 89% of control), respectively. The MDA concentrations in the lung also increased after higher ethanol ingestion. Most of the antioxidant enzyme ratios increased with increasing doses of ethanol in the lung. In the kidney, GSH-Px activity increased (139, 119 and 151% of control), whereas GR activity decreased (84, 85 and 83% of control). GSH-Px/SOD and GSH-Px+CAT/SOD ratios increased whereas GR/GSH-Px ratio decreased after graded doses of ethanol. GSH levels in the kidney decreased after ethanol ingestion. MDA concentrations increased with increasing dose of ethanol in the kidney. These results showed the dose dependant and tissue specific changes in the antioxidant system after ethanol ingestion. Ethanol exerts oxidative stress on antioxidant systems of liver, lung and kidney in proportion to the amount of ethanol ingestion.

Analysis of lung damage induced by trichloroethylene inhalation in mice fed diets with low, normal, and high copper content

Copper is both an essential nutrient required for the activity of several enzymes and a toxic element able to catalyze free radical formation. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a xenobiotic that generates epoxidic intermediates by bioactivation through the cytochrome P-450 system. In this study, the influence of a dietary copper imbalance on the TCE-induced lung damage was investigated. Weaning mice were fed copper-deficient, copper-sufficient, and copper-excessive diets. After 4 wk, mice were exposed for 30 min to 6,500 ppm of TCE and euthanatized 48 hr later. Lung damage in the TCE-treated mice consisted of vacuolations of Clara cells and was quantitatively evaluated by counting the vacuolated cells per micrometer of basal lamina. At the ultrastructural level, vacuolations appeared as the result of hydropic swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. The copper-deficient mice presented the highest number of vacuolated Clara cells. These mice also showed alteration of the capillary endothelium and interstitium and decreased pulmonary copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase activity. Occurrence of oxidative stress in lungs of both copper-sufficient and copper-deficient mice following TCE treatment was indicated by a decrease in reduced glutathione and an increase in its oxidized form.