Changes in Antioxidant Enzymes Activities and Lipid Peroxidase Level in Tissues of Stress-induced Rats

Abstract

Background: Estimating the changes in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers are vital in identifying stress related disease in living organism. This study examined changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidase level in female Wistar rats exposed to stressors of different nature were examined. Methods: 88 apparently healthy rats within the ages of 8-12weeks and weighing between 120-180g were utilized for the study. Rats were acclimatized for 2weeks and fed with rat chaw and water ad libitum. Animals were stressed at the rate of 1hr, 3hr or 5hr per day for 1, 2 or 3weeks respectively. After the experimental protocol of stress induction, the rats werekilled via cervical dislocation and some vital organs were carefully harvested for tissue homogenates in assessing SOD, CAT and MDA antioxidants. Data collected were analyzed using Mean±SEM, ANOVA was used to compare means and LSD was used for post hoc. Results: SOD activity of the different tissues examined were significantly (p<0.05) altered irrespective of the stressor applied especially in the restraint or intruder stressors. CAT activity were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in all stressors irrespective of the rate of exposure. The study also revealed that lipid peroxidase levels were significantly (p<0.05) increased in all tissues irrespective of the rate of exposure and type of stressor applied. Conclusions: The findings validate the ability of the stressors to increase production of free radicals, thus, changes in antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxidase level implies compromised cellular activity in tissues of stress-induced rats.