Effects of exercise training on hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant status in aged rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of exercise training on oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense markers in the liver tissues of young and aged rats. Two age groups of 4-(young) and 20-months-(aged) old male Wistar rats were performed exercise training program consisted of swimming exercise for 8 weeks. The biomarkers of pro/antioxidant status malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), total glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed by commercially available kits. PC levels were higher in the untrained aged rats compared to the young groups and exercise training decreased PC levels (p < 0.05). 8-OHdG levels were higher in the aged groups (p < 0.05). MDA and GSH levels and SOD activity did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). The present findings indicate that exercise training prevents aging-induced hepatic oxidative damage especially in the proteins.