Antioxidant status in different genetic strains of rats subjected to severe hemorrhage

Abstract

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated an 8‐fold difference in survival time after hemorrhage among several rat strains (Klemcke et al., 2008). The present study evaluated whether antioxidant status among strains was associated with these differences. Lung, liver, small intestine and brain were collected 30 min after hemorrhage or handling from 3 groups (control, sham hemorrhage and hemorrhage, n=5/gp) of 3 inbred rats strains (Brown Norway (BN), Fawn Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) and DA) divergent in survival time after hemorrhage (BN>FHH>DA). Tissues were analyzed for antioxidant potential, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), and antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH‐reductase, GSH‐peroxidase, and catalase). For control rats of each strain, these variables were similar when the same tissue was compared. BN rats appeared more responsive to catheterization (sham) and hemorrhage than the other strains, with decreases in brain TBARS, GSH, nitric oxide and lung antioxidant potential compared to controls. For each tissue, as there were no differences between shams and hemorrhage groups, these changes in BN rats did not appear to be related to the hemorrhage. At the time point measured, these data suggest that these rat strains had similar antioxidant status and there were few hemorrhage associated changes in antioxidant levels.Supported by US Army MRMC.