The effects of copper, zinc and bicarbonate in blood, kidney and liver in rats under intermittent hypobaric hypoxia

Abstract

Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia is defined as to be below the normal values of partial oxygen pressure at tissue due to hypoxia periods. It can lead to increased reactive oxygen species which causes oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins. The effect of antioxidant defense mechanism varies from tissue to tissue under hypoxic conditions. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of bicarbonate, copper and zinc on antioxidant statue in blood, liver and kidney tissues under hypoxia.Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats randomly divided into five groups (Control, Hypoxia, H+Zn, H+Cu and H+HCO3). Rats were exposed hypoxia a daily 8 h for 5 days/week until completing 3 weeks in hypoxia cabin at a simulated pressure of 400–500 mmHg. The animals of H+Zn, H+Cu and H+HCO3 experimental groups received through drinking water 30 mg/kg Zn, 7 mg/kg Cu and 3 mmol/kg NaHCO3, respectively. At the samples of blood, liver and kidney taken from rats at the end of experiment were measured the concentrations of Zn and Cu by ICP-OES device. The values of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and the bicarbonate concentration were also obtained spectrophotometer and ABL800 devices, respectively.According to statistical evaluated, the kidney GSH values showed a significant increase in all experimental groups (p < 0.01). Increase in the plasma GSH values is also due to kidney cells. As a result of our investigation it is seen that the antioxidant response of kidney cells to hypoxia are more effective than applied dose levels of zinc, copper and bicarbonate ions at the study.