[Peroxide metabolism on respiratory muscles: effect of growth, maturation and aging]

Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase are two important cellular antioxidant enzymes involved in H2O2 and lipid-peroxide metabolism.

To study the effects of growth, maturation and aging on the activity of these enzymes.

GSHPx and catalase specific activities were measured in samples of diaphragm and intercostal muscle of male Sprague-Dawley rats of different ages (21, 50, 70, 180 and 365 days), anesthetised with chloral hydrate (45 mg/100 g i.p.).

The diaphragm and intercostal muscles did not differ in GSHPx activity at 21 days. After that, GSHPx activity increased progressively with age, but following a different pattern, in each muscle, suggesting an increase in enzyme substrates with age. In one year old animals, GSHPx activity was 5 times higher for the diaphragm and 3 times higher for the intercostal muscles, when compared with values observed at 21 days of age. Catalase activity also increased with age in the diaphragm but not in the intercostal muscles.

GSHPx activity increases progressively with age in rat respiratory muscles, with a time course that is specific of each muscle. Catalase activity increases with age only in the diaphragm. These results support the hypothesis that antioxidants in respiratory muscles undergo specific regulatory changes with age.