INTERACTION OF EXERCISE TRAINING AND CHRONIC ETHANOL ON ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM OF RAT BRAIN REGIONS 598

Abstract

The interactive effects of exercise training (6.5 weeks) and chronic ethanol intake (2gm/kg, p.o.) for 6.5 weeks on antioxidant system of rat brain regions were investigated. Male Fisher-344 rats were sacrificed as follows: 1)sedentary control (SC); 2) exercise training (ET); 3) ethanol (Et); and 4) ET + Et); Five brain regions were dissected and antioxidant enzymes, glutathione (GSH), and MDA were determined. ET increased GSH peroxidase(GSH-Px) and GSH reductase (GR) activity in cortex (33% and 62%), striatum(31% and 214%), and in hypothalamus (43% and 11%) as compared to SC. ET decreased MDA level in all brain regions while GSH level increased in cortex and cerebellum (115% and 120%). Ethanol decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and GSH-Px activity in all brain regions. Ethanol decreased GSH level in all brain regions while MDA level increased in cortex and hypothalamus (30% and 40%). The combination (ET + Et) decreased MDA level in all brain areas and GSH level in cortex, striatum and medulla (24%, 39% and 52%). ET + Et significantly increased CAT, GSH-Px and GR activity in all brain regions except medulla. This study suggests that i) ET enhanced antioxidant system and inhibited lipid peroxidation; ii) ethanol depressed antioxidant system and enhanced lipid peroxidation whereas iii) the combination augmented antioxidant enzyme activity differentially in specific brain regions and depleted lipid peroxidation in all brain regions. ET provides protection against ethanol induced oxidative stress.