Gender-dependent oxidative variations in liver of aged rats

A shift from redox regulation to oxidative damage is known to contribute organ dysfunction and aging-related disorders. Exposure to reactive oxygen species throughout the life-span increases the incidence of several liver diseases. A redox basis of the loss of antioxidant capacity of aged livers has not been fully elucidated in both genders. In the current study, we investigated the gender-dependent relations between protein carbonyl (PCO), a commonly used marker of protein oxidation and other protein oxidation parameters such as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total thiol (T-SH). Our study also covered other oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LHP), and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue of the male and female aged rats. PCO and AOPP levels in old male and female rats were significantly higher than those in the young control groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively for male rats; P < 0.001 for both parameters in female rats). On the other hand, T-SH levels were not found to be different between young and old rat groups. Plasma MDA levels of old male and female rats were significantly higher compared to those of the young control groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). LHP levels were only found out to be significantly higher in old female rats when compared to those in young male rats. GSH levels in old male and female rats were significantly lower than in the corresponding young control groups (P < 0.01 for male rats; P < 0.05 for female rats). Our results demonstrated greater susceptibility to hepatic oxidative damage in females than in males. This appears to contradict the general assumption that females are less susceptible to oxidative injury than males are.