Effects of Castration and Testosterone Replacement on the Antioxidant Defense System in Rat Left Ventricle

The Journal of Physiological Sciences

K. Kempa²  J. Langfort²  Jan Górski¹  S. Jagsz²  E. Sadowska-Krępa²  B. Kłapcińska² 

[1] Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok;Department of Physiological and Medical Sciences, Academy of Physical Education

关键词: castration;    testosterone;    rat;   

DOI  :  10.2170/physiolsci.RP002208

学科分类：生理学

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

References(22)Cited-By(6)There is strong evidence that oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, the presence of specific receptors for androgens and estrogens in the myocardium implies that sex hormones play a physiological role in cardiac function, myocardial injury, and the regulation of the redox state in the heart. The present study was designed to determine whether castration and androgen replacement result in changes in the capacity of the antioxidant defense system in the left ventricle (LV) of adult male rats. To assess this, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPX], catalase [CAT], and glutathione reductase [GR]), concentrations of nonenzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione [GSH] and α- and γ-tocopherols), and oxidative stress biomarkers (tissue sulfhydryl groups, protein nitrotyrosine levels, and lipid peroxidation) were measured in castrated animals (CAS), castrates replaced with testosterone (CAS+T), and sham-operated controls (Sham). Testosterone was not detectable in serum from gonadectomized rats. The results indicate that castration significantly and negatively affected the antioxidant status of rat LV, as evidenced by a significant decline in activities of all antioxidant enzymes, by a tendency toward lower levels of GSH and protein thiol groups, and by enhanced lipid peroxidation and higher nitrotyrosine concentrations in left ventricular tissue. Increases in LV tissue concentrations of α- and γ-tocopherols seem to be a compensatory response to enhanced oxidative stress induced by gonadectomy. The reestablishment of physiological serum testosterone level by androgen replacement resulted in a tendency toward a further decrease in the antioxidant defense status in the LV tissue.

【 授权许可】

Unknown