Intensity of myocardial free-radical processes and expression of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase genes in rats with adrenaline myocarditis

Abstract

A correlation between changes in activities of myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and the intensity of free radical processes estimated by biochemiluminescence parameters and the content of lipoperoxidation products has been demonstrated in rats during development of adrenaline myocarditis. The maximal increase of GPx and GR activities (1.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively) was observed 24 h after the development of the pathological process; this coincided with the maximal intensity of free radical oxidation. Using combination of reverse transcriptions with real-time polymerase chain reaction the cardiac mRNA levels of genes encoding GPx and GR were determined 24 h after the development of adrenaline myocarditis in rats. Analysis of expression of GPx and GR genes revealed a 2.8- and 7.3-fold increase of their transcripts in rats with adrenaline myocarditis, respectively. Obviously, overexpression of these enzymes can increase cardiomyocite resistance to oxidative stress.