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Published on: July 14, 2016
Catalase activity and rhythmic patterns in mouse brain, kidney and liver
Mamane Sani1, Hichem Sebaï, Wafa Gadacha
1Unité de Toxicométrie et Chronobiométrie, Laboratoire de Biosurveillance de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisie. sanimamane@yahoo.fr
Summary
Antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) activity varies significantly across mouse brain, kidney, and liver over a 24-hour period, with distinct circadian and ultradian rhythms observed in each organ.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Chronobiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Organisms utilize enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems to mitigate damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Cytosolic catalase (CAT) is a key antioxidant enzyme that detoxifies hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tissue-specific and temporal variations in antioxidant enzyme CAT activity within the brain, kidney, and liver of adult male mice.
- To identify circadian and ultradian rhythmicity in CAT activity over a 24-hour light-dark cycle.
Main Methods:
- CAT activity was measured at 4-hour intervals over a 24-hour period in mouse brain, kidney, and liver.
- The Cosinor test was employed to analyze and confirm rhythmic patterns in CAT activity.
Main Results:
- Significant organ-specific differences in CAT activity were observed, with the liver exhibiting the highest activity.
- Liver CAT activity showed a prominent circadian rhythm peaking around 17 Hours After Light Onset (HALO), with ultradian components.
- Kidney CAT activity displayed a circadian rhythm peaking around 17 HALO.
- Brain CAT activity exhibited an ultradian rhythm with two peaks at approximately 1 and 17 HALO.
Conclusions:
- CAT activity demonstrates distinct temporal patterns and organ-specific variations across a 24-hour cycle.
- These differences may be influenced by physiological functions, oxidative stress susceptibility, and protein metabolism.
- The study highlights the complex interplay between circadian biology and antioxidant defense mechanisms in different organs.

