Tissue antioxidant status in hemorrhaged inbred rat strains fed diets for 9 weeks varying in levels of methyl group donors

Abstract

We reported previously that inbred rats fed a diet deficient in methyl group donors (SD) during ages 4–13 weeks, had altered liver antioxidant status compared to rats fed a sufficient (SC) or supplemented (SS) methyl group donor diet. The present study reports similar variables in lung, kidney, small intestine and brain (cortex) from this same study. After feeding the diets for 9 weeks, inbred rats [Dark agouti (DA), and Brown Norway/Medical College of Wisconsin (BN/Mcwi)] were bled 50% of their blood volume and survival time from hemorrhage observed up to 240 min. Tissues were collected at death and frozen at −80°C until assayed for total antioxidant potential, TBARS, reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), NADH and select antioxidant enzyme activities. No significant differences in these variables were noted in any of the SS fed DA or BN/Mcwi rats compared to the SC groups. DA rats fed the SD diet had higher lung TBARS and lower GSH as well as higher kidney TBARS and lower NADH levels than corresponding SC rats. Also, certain antioxidants were generally higher in lung, kidney and jejunum in BN/Mcwi than DA rats. Taken together, these data support a potential role of lower antioxidant status in DA rats contributing to shorter survival time after hemorrhage (p<0.013) in DA than BN/Mcwi rats for all diets. Supported by US Army Medical Research Materiel Command