Preliminary Data Regarding Decreased Catalase Specific Activity in the Tears as a Result of Environmental Stress

Abstract

Oxidative stress represents the imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the organism�s capacity to produce antioxidants. This phenomenon has captured lately a lot of attention, with an additional increased interest being manifested towards the relationship between psychological stress and oxidative stress. In the present study we decided to observe the changes which occur in stress environmental conditions applied to rats subjected to swimming and treadmill exercises, by focusing on a preliminary determination of (CAT) specific activity, an enzyme known to catalyse the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, and a valuable antioxidant protector, with possible implications into the dry eye pathology. Our results could suggest a possible dry eye animal model induced through stress and a possible implication of the oxidative stress markers in the occurrence of this ocular pathology, as suggested by the significant decrease in the CAT activity registered in rat tears collected after the application of environmental stressors (e.g. swimming and running) versus the control group.