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Possible supportive effects of co-dergocrine mesylate on antioxidant enzyme systems in aged rat brain
E Y Sözmen1, L Kanit, F Z Kutay
1Ege University, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Bornova Izmir, Turkey.
Abstract:
Free radical damage is implicated in the course of many diseases, including age-related dementias. Oxidative deamination of primary monoamino oxidase (MAO) produces NH3 and H2O2 with established or potential toxicity. MAO activity is increased in aged rat brain and significantly lowered by chronic hydergine (codergocrine mesylate, Sandoz) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydergine on enzymatic antioxidant defense systems. Hydergine or vehicle was administered systemically to young (3 months) and aged (18 months) Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 days and 24 h after the termination of the treatment, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in some brain regions. SOD and CAT activities were higher in the aged animals and were further increased with hydergine treatment. The increase in SOD levels caused by hydergine treatment in the aged animals were the most prominent in the hippocampus and in the corpus striatum. There was no region-specific effect of hydergine treatment on CAT levels in aged animals. The possible causal relationship between increased MAO activity, a generator of free radicals, and increased antioxidant defense in aging brain require further investigation. Decreasing MAO levels and supporting the antioxidant enzymes may underlie the efficacy of hydergine in the treatment of age related cognitive decline.
Insights
Hydergine treatment increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in aged rat brains, potentially combating free radical damage linked to cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Free radical damage contributes to age-related diseases, including dementias.
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, increased in aged brains, generates toxic byproducts like H2O2.
- Hydergine (codergocrine mesylate) has shown potential in modulating MAO activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hydergine on enzymatic antioxidant defense systems in young and aged rats.
- To determine if hydergine influences superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in specific brain regions.
Main Methods:
- Systemic administration of hydergine or vehicle to young and aged Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 days.
- Measurement of SOD and CAT activities in brain regions 24 hours post-treatment.
- Comparison of enzyme activities between age groups and treatment conditions.
Main Results:
- Aged rats exhibited higher baseline SOD and CAT activities compared to young rats.
- Hydergine treatment further elevated SOD and CAT activities in aged animals.
- The most significant SOD increase occurred in the hippocampus and corpus striatum of aged rats.
Conclusions:
- Hydergine enhances antioxidant enzyme activity in the aging brain, particularly SOD in key regions.
- This enhancement may counteract free radical damage associated with aging and cognitive decline.
- Further research is needed to confirm the link between MAO activity, antioxidant defense, and hydergine's efficacy.