Increased total scavenger capacity in rats fed corticosterone and cortisol on lipid-rich diet

Abstract

In our earlier studies both corticosterone and cortisol had antioxidant effect in vitro. Our aim was to clarify whether corticosterone and cortisol oral administration results in beneficial antioxidant changes in Sprague-Dawley adult male rats in vivo. Experimental animals were fed a lipid rich diet and treated with corticosterone or cortisol in the drinking fluid. Control group was fed only lipid rich diet with untreated drinking water. The untreated group was feda normal diet with untreated water. Total scavenger capacity (TSC) was measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment in blood samples using a chemiluminometric assay. Both corticosterone and cortisol treatment caused increased TSC. The control group and the untreated group showed no significant changes in TSC. Our results support the hypothesis that corticosterone and cortisol administration can improve the antioxidant status not only in vitro but also in vivo.