Alterations in oxidative stress scavenger system in aging rat brain and lymphocytes

There is a large body of evidence indicating an age-related increase in the rate of mitochondrial O2- and H2O2 generation and huge amounts of oxidative damage leading to several neurodegenerative disorders, perhaps due to an imbalance between free radical generation and anti-oxidant defense system. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effect of aging on free radical scavenger system profile in rat brain and lymphocytes. The enzyme activities of gamma-GCS, GR, GPx, gamma-GTP, GST, catalase, and SOD as well as GSH content were assayed from discrete brain areas viz., CH, CB, BS and DC along with lymphocytes from four different age group rats, namely, 1-month-old young rats, 3-4-month-old young adults, 12-month-old adults and 24-month-old aged rats. Significant decline was observed in all the enzyme activities in 12- and 24-month-old rats as compared to 3-4-month-old young adult rats and also, 1-month-old rats showed lower levels of enzyme activities as compared to 3-4-month-old rats. The maximum scavenger system activity was found in the young adult rats (3-4 months) as compared to the remaining age groups. Lymphocytes and brain showed a parallel pattern of age-related alterations in the free radical scavenger system components. The analysis of such alterations is important in ultimately determining the basis of neuronal dysfunction associated with aging and also defining the nature of these changes may help to develop therapeutic means to cure not only elderly but also individuals suffering from certain organic or psychiatric disorders.