Blood Superoxide Dismutase Activity Research Articles

Validation of a Surgical Technique for Rat Intestinal Irradiation: Potential Side Effects Prevention by Dietary Grape Phenolics

This study evaluates and defines the histological and biochemical consequences of irradiation on the Hauer-Jensen intestinal model and investigates the potential effects of dietary polyphenols. Sprague-Dawley rats were orchiectomized, and an ileal loop was transposed to the left part of the scrotum, then irradiated 2 weeks after surgery with a single dose of 21 Gy (4.49 Gy/min). Four groups of rats received either phenolic extracts from grape seeds (EGS) and from red wine (ACYS, EGT), or pure quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside (Q3G), for 5 days before the irradiation and were sacrificed 2 weeks after. Antioxidant enzyme activities, i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activity (GSHPx), and oxidative markers such as myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (MDA) were measured as well as cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant level (CINC-1), a chemokine involved in inflammation. Irradiated rats exhibited a high radiation injury score (RIS) with a thickened serosa, mucosal loss and ulceration, and epithelial atypicality. Intestinal MPO activity and CINC-1 concentration were significantly increased in irradiated animals (60 and 66 %, respectively). Higher plasma MDA levels (58 %) and SOD activity (32 %) were accompanied by a reduced GSHPx activity (79 %). However, feeding phenolic extracts remarkably reduced levels of blood SOD activity (34 % on average), intestinal CINC-1 (25-75 % range) and MPO activity (36-84 %). Except for Q3G, phenolics preserved the intestinal structure. These findings show that irradiation triggers an inflammation, and an oxidative stress by disturbing the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and indicate that phenolics supply exerts preventive effects against radio-induced intestinal impairment.

Possible modulation of the antidiabetic effect of rosiglitazone by buspirone

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from relative or absolute insulin deficiency with or without insulin resistance. As anxiolytics may have influence on glycemic control in diabetics, the present study was conducted to investigate the possible influence of buspirone in streptozotocin-induced DM and its possible interactions with rosiglitazone, an insulin sensitizer. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (50mg/kg i.p.). Rats were classified into five groups namely: normal control, diabetic control, rosiglitazone (10mg/kg p.o.), buspirone (20mg/kg i.p.) or combination of both rosiglitazone and buspirone, respectively. All groups received daily treatments for 2weeks after induction of DM including the normal group which received 1% Tween 80. There was no significant interaction between rosiglitazone and buspirone on the levels of serum glucose, insulin and C-peptide or liver glycogen content. Similarly, no interaction was observed between rosiglitazone and buspirone on oxidative stress parameters including serum malondialdehyde and blood glutathione levels or blood superoxide dismutase activity. In conclusion, the present study revealed that co-administration of buspirone with rosiglitazone does not produce serious reactions and buspirone can be safely administered as an anxiolytic in diabetic patients treated with rosiglitazone.

Impact of occupational exposure to elemental mercury on some antioxidative enzymes among dental staff

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of elemental mercury exposure on renal function and antioxidative enzymes activity as a possible mechanism of renal affection among dental staff. This study was performed on a group of dental staff exposed to elemental mercury (N = 32) and matched control group (N = 37). Urinary and blood level of mercury, albumin α1 microgloblin in urine, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase blood level were measured for the exposed and control group. Compared to the control group, urinary and blood mercury were significantly higher in the exposed group. Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in blood were significantly decreased and were negatively correlated with duration of work. Oxidative stress is an important molecular mechanism for renal dysfunction in mercury exposure, manifested by decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Lipid peroxidation/antioxidant activity in patients with alopecia areata

Aetiopathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) is not fully understood and many factors have been assumed. Oxidant/antioxidant disequilibrium has been proposed with controversies between results. The aim of this study was to determine lipid peroxidation/antioxidant activity in patients with AA and to determine its clinical significance. Fifty non-obese patients with AA and 50 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched controls (25 patients with severe grade acne vulgaris representative of an oxidative stress condition and 25 healthy volunteers), were included. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), indicator of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), were spectrophotometrically measured in blood from all subjects and in scalp tissues from 10 patients with AA. No significant differences in MDA levels and SOD activity existed between patients with AA and those with acne. However, significantly higher MDA levels and lower SOD activity were found in patients with AA compared with healthy controls. Within patients with AA, lipid peroxidation/antioxidant parameters showed significant differences with disease duration, pattern and extent of lesions. Significant positive correlations also existed between tissue and blood SOD activity and between tissue and blood MDA levels of the 10 studied patients with AA. Increased lipid peroxidation and defective SOD activity exist in patients with AA. Addition of drugs with antioxidative effects seems to be valuable in treatment.

Tissue and blood superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde level in leprosy

Oxidative stress (OS) results from an imbalance between free radical generating and scavenging systems. The end product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) serves as a marker of cellular damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) traps free radicals and acts as a free radical scavenging system. To study OS indices in paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy in tissues and blood. The study group comprised untreated PB patients (n = 14), untreated MB patients (n = 18) and normal human volunteers (n = 20). SOD activity, MDA level and MDA/SOD ratio were estimated in both blood and tissue. Compared with controls, SOD activity in tissues decreased significantly in both PB and MB patients, while SOD activity in erythrocytes decreased significantly only in MB. In addition, MDA levels increased significantly in tissues of both PB and MB patients. Moreover, the mean level of MDA in plasma of MB patients was significantly higher, whereas there was no significant difference in that of PB patients. This study showed significant increase in OS index (MDA/SOD ratio) in tissue of PB and MB patients and in blood of MB patients only, whereas there was no significant difference in OS index in blood of PB patients compared with that in the controls. Oxidative stress was observed in both tissues and blood of MB patients and in tissues of PB patients, denoting its crucial involvement in the pathogenesis of leprosy. This can constitute an important tool in prognosis, treatment and control of leprosy.

Tissue and blood superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde levels in different clinical severities of acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is one of the commonest dermatological diseases and its pathogenesis is multifactorial. To determine the role of oxidative stress in acne vulgaris and to determine a possible link with the clinical severity. Twenty-three patients with different grades of acne vulgaris and 23 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured spectrophotometrically at tissue and blood levels. There were no significant differences in SOD activities and MDA levels between patients and controls. However, significant differences were found in patients with severe acne in comparison with those with mild and moderate acne. Moreover, comparison between different patient subgroups and controls revealed statistically significantly higher SOD activities in patients with mild acne in comparison with patients with moderate and severe acne, and with controls. Furthermore, severe acne showed statistically significantly lower SOD activities and higher MDA levels when compared with other patient subgroups and controls. Oxidative stress exists in patients with acne vulgaris and may play a role in aetiopathogenesis and/or progression of the disease. The addition of drugs with antioxidative effects seems to be valuable in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Studies on the relationship between haemoglobin, copper, ceruloplasmin, iron, and superoxide dismutase activity in blood of Iranian fat-tailed sheep

The relationship between haemoglobin, copper, ceruloplasmin, iron, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in blood of Iranian fat-tailed sheep was studied. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 128 clinically healthy Iranian fat-tailed sheep grouped according to their age ( 36 months) and sex. Age had a significant effect on blood concentrations of haemoglobin, ceruloplasmin and SOD activity (P<0.05). Sex had no significant effect on blood concentrations of haemoglobin, copper, iron, ceruloplasmin and SOD. There was no significant correlation between the concentrations of haemoglobin, copper, iron, ceruloplasmin and SOD. The identification of regulatory mechanisms of copper metabolism in Iranian fat-tailed sheep will require further investigations.

Antioxidant action and therapeutic efficacy of laser irradiation of blood in patients with ischemic heart disease

Laser irradiation in therapeutic doses (gamma = 632.8 nm, 14 mW) has an antioxidant effect in blood irradiation in vitro as shown by activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) which is a key enzyme of the antioxidant system (AOS) and suppression of lipid peroxidation. Adjuvant supravascular He-Ne laser irradiation of blood in combined therapy of 82 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) produces a positive trend in the clinical picture, hemostasis, lipid metabolism, blood SOD activity. Thereby, this method of laser hemotherapy is recommended for use in IHD patients. The dependence of the treatment results on the initial blood AOS necessitates consideration of AOS state in deciding on laser therapy in this group of patients.

Prevention of biochemical changes in gamma-irradiated rats by some metal complexes.

The formation of superoxide partially accounts for the well-known oxygen enhancement of radiation-induced biochemical changes and cell damage. Radioprotective effects of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes, of superoxide dismutase-mimetic activity, on body weight, survival rate and some biochemical parameters in pre-treated irradiated, untreated irradiated and treated non-irradiated female albino rats have been studied 24 h after whole body gamma-irradiation at a dose level of 6 Gy. Survival time, body weight, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, percentage of hematocrit (Hct%), reduced glutathione (GSH), serum total protein, albumin, globulin (G), blood urea, creatinine and cholesterol were estimated, as well as the activities of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutamate-oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvic (GPT) transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase were assessed. A significant decline was shown in body weight, survival rate, the mean values of RBC and WBC counts, Hb and Hct percentages, and GSH concentration, as well as blood SOD activity, in whole body gamma-irradiated rats compared with the control non-irradiated rat group. The mean activity values of alkaline phosphatase, GOT and GPT, as well as the average values of blood urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, total protein and globulin were significantly elevated, while the average values of albumin and the albumin/globulin ratio were decreased in gamma-irradiated rats compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. Pretreatment of rats with either manganese or vanadium complexes resulted in a significant increase in survival rate and body weight over that of the non-treated irradiated rat group. Pretreatment of rats with copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes caused a significant increase in RBC and WBC counts, Hb concentration, HCt (%), GSH content and SOD activity in blood when compared to the irradiated rat group without treatment. The administration of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes prior to irradiation exposure resulted in a significant decrease in GOT and GPT activities in addition to blood urea, creatinine, cholesterol, globulin and total protein contents, while each complex exhibited a significant increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and the albumin/globulin ratio compared to the untreated irradiated rat group. Administration of vanadium (IV), manganese (IV) or copper (II) complexes in non-irradiated rats caused a significant increase in SOD activity without changing other biochemical parameters compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. We conclude that these metallo-elements, particularly manganese (IV) and vanadium (IV) complexes of 2-methylaminopyridine, have radiation protection and radiation recovery. Furthermore, these metal complexes offer a new approach to overcome the pathological effects of ionizing radiation and suggest their use as a physiological approach to preventing or perhaps predominantly facilitating recovery from radiation injury.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine treatment on lung and blood superoxide dismutase activity in mercury vapors exposed rats

Effect of N-acetylcysteine treatment on lung and blood superoxide dismutase activity in mercury vapors exposed rats

Lipid abnormalities in rats given small doses of lead.

Previous human and experimental studies have demonstrated that lead exposure may modify the metabolism of lipids. Several studies have indicated that exposure to lead produces an increase in lipid peroxidation and inhibits blood superoxide dismutase activity. Recently, lipid peroxides have been shown to impair tissue membranes and to be a risk factor for vascular diseases. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the impact of subclinical lead poisoning on rat lipids in the context of atherosclerosis. The degree of poisoning was analogous to that in populations exposed to lead in a contaminated environment. Experiments were performed on male Buffalo rats with body weights of 150-200 g. The experimental animals received lead acetate intragastrically in doses of 35 mg lead/kg body wt. (Pb/kg) once weekly or 70 mg Pb/kg twice weekly for 7 weeks. Control rats were fed in the same manner with sodium acetate equimolar to the acetate in the lead acetate solution. One day after the feeding was over, venous blood samples, under ether anesthesia, were collected. The animals were killed by exsanguination and the liver was excised for determination of the metal (lead, copper, and zinc) content. A segment of the abdominal aorta was excised for histological examination. In venous blood the following were estimated: triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol fraction, serum lipid peroxides, and blood superoxide dismutase activity. Metal content (lead, copper, and zinc) in blood and liver was determined by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In rats poisoned with small doses of lead, decreases in the plasma cholesterol level and the HDL-cholesterol fraction were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Impaired blood superoxide dismutase in the traumatic paraplegic patients.

Blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and blood copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu.Zn-SOD) content were measured by luminol chemiluminescence assay and by single radial immunodiffusion assay, respectively, in 50 patients with paraplegia due to traumatic injury to the spinal cord by the Tangshan Earthquake on July 28, 1976, compared with 20 age-matched healthy subjects. We found that blood SOD activity and blood Cu.Zn-SOD content in the paraplegic patients were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects (p < 0.01). In healthy subjects, blood Cu.Zn-SOD fully expressed the enzymatic activity, whereas only 77% of blood Cu.Zn-SOD in the paraplegic patients expressed the enzymatic activity, indicating that in the patients, part of blood Cu.Zn-SOD protein is in a state without function. Also the serum lipid peroxide level in the paraplegic patients was higher than that in healthy subjects (p < 0.05). These findings suggest decreased endogenous blood protection against oxygen derived free radicals in these paraplegic patients.

The protective effect of glycyrrhizin against injury of the liver caused by ischemia-reperfusion.

Effects of glycyrrhizin (GR) on an injury of the liver caused by ischemia-reperfusion in rats were determined. In the liver ischemia-reperfusion model, levels of serum AST, ALT and LDH, lipid peroxides in the liver tissue, and blood superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased. On the contrary, total glutathione content in the liver tissue was decreased. When rats were given GR 100 mg/kg for 10 days, GR suppressed the elevation of the lipid peroxide level, serum AST, ALT, LDH level, and the decrease in glutathione content during the period of reperfusion. The suppressive effect of GR was similar with that of alpha-tocopherol (VE). GR showed neither 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) nor 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide(DMPO)-OOH radical-trapping ability, but exhibited DMPO-OH radical-trapping action, while, VE exhibited both DPPH and DMPO-OOH radical-trapping ability. These results indicate that the hydroxyl radical trapping action of GR is the likely mechanism suppressing liver injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion.

Lung and blood superoxide dismutase activity in mercury vapor exposed rats: effect of N-acetylcysteine treatment

Rats were exposed to mercury vapors (30 mg/m 3) for either 1 or 2 h. Histological lesions like alveolar oedema, hyaline membranes and sometimes fibrosis were observed. The lesions were more significant after 2 h of exposure, with about 50% of the animals dying within 2 weeks. The mercury level and the superoxide dismutase activity in the blood and the lungs demonstrated differences according to the time of exposure. In the animal exposed for 2 h to mercury vapors, N-acetylcysteine treatment increased survival time and the percentage of living animals. The lung superoxide dismutase was lower than in the non-treated animals indicating an antioxidant effect. Mercury levels were decreased in blood and lung, suggesting some chelating effect of N-acetylcysteine. The exact mechanism of its action must be further elucidated.

Serum lipid peroxide level and blood superoxide dismutase activity in workers with occupational exposure to lead.

We studied whether lead exposure increased the serum lipid peroxide (LPO) level and inhibited blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in workers with occupational exposure to lead and rats injected with lead. We examined the following subjects: (1) manual workers (712 males) from 18 to 59-years-old in steel production with occupational exposure to lead, (2) office workers (155 males) without exposure to lead, (3) rats subcutaneously injected with lead in concentrations of 10 or 20 mg/kg as lead acetate. The nutritional intakes of manual workers and office workers were approximately equal. Serum LPO and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CL) levels in manual workers (LPO: 4.4 +/- 1.9 nmol/ml, HDL-CL: 55.6 +/- 14.2 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in office workers (LPO: 4.0 +/- 1.4 nmol/ml, HDL-CL: 53.0 +/- 13.9 mg/dl). Serum LPO level in the manual workers increased with an increase of the lead concentration in the blood, while blood SOD activity decreased. Similar phenomena were observed in rats subcutaneously injected with lead acetate. Furthermore, the addition of lead at higher than 20-microM concentrations to non-treated rats liver microsomes increased NADPH-dependent liquid peroxidation, and these lead concentrations inhibited bovine erythrocyte SOD activity in vitro assay system. In conclusion, the present results seem to indicate that the increase of serum LPO level in workers with occupational exposure to lead is due not only to the stimulation of lipid peroxidation, but also to the inhibition of SOD activity by exposure to lead in the manufacturing processes.

Effects of dietary copper depletion on acute and delayed inflammatory responses in mice

Acute and delayed hypersensitivity reactions were compared in mice fed diets low in copper (less than 20 mumol copper kg-1) or adequate (more than 300 mumol copper kg-1) for seven to nine weeks after weaning. In the copper depleted animals there was a significant enhancement (P less than 0.01) of histamine-induced paw oedema measured 15 minutes after challenge. The variance of responses within the two dietary groups was similar. Delayed contact hypersensitivity reactions to oxozalone were also significantly increased (P less than 0.01) in the deficient mice. In this study there were some signs of differences in variance heterogeneity but they were statistically insignificant. Delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep erythrocytes was similarly but less markedly (P less than 0.05) affected. Group differences just failed to reach statistical significance after logarithmic transformation (P less than 0.07) or non-parametric analysis (P less than 0.06). At challenge, the copper deficient mice had a significant (P less than 0.05) plasma hypercholesterolaemia. A few individuals also showed signs of spleen enlargement and mild haemoglobinaemia but otherwise the animals appeared clinically normal and were similar in weight to the controls. Plasma (P less than 0.001), erythrocyte (P less than 0.01) and liver (P less than 0.01) copper concentrations were significantly reduced in the copper-depressed mice, although the concentrations of copper and zinc in the spleen were increased (P less than 0.05) in the same group. Whole blood superoxide dismutase activity was also significantly decreased (P less than 0.01) but erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in both groups, as were blood and liver zinc concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Significance of oxygen intermediates-superoxide ratio in tissue injuries of several disorders

It has been elucidated that phagocyte-released oxygen intermediates (O-2, H2O2, OH⋅, 1O2) (OI) which are excessively generated to fuse invading agents in their phagosomes induce auto-oxidative damage such as tissue injury in several human cells in vivo. On the other hand, superoxide dismutase (SOD), oxygen-scavenging enzyme is produced in every human cell to prevent itself from auto-oxidative damage by increasingly released OI. Recently, there have been reports suggesting the auto-oxidative damage only from the result of a decrease in SOD activity. In this study, the authors assessed both the capacity for generating OI by neutrophils and SOD activity in blood including serum and blood cells of the patients with various diseases to calculate OI/SOD ratio, by which tissue injury induced by an increase in OI in every disease was investigated and discussed. Patients with dermatitis herpetiformis in whom both an increase in OI generation and a decrease in SOD activity were found, showed the highest OI/SOD ratio. The patients with mucocutano lymphnode syndrome (within 5 days after onset) and rheumatoid arthritis (but only in synovia) in whom an increase of OI generation was not accompanied by that of SOD activity, showed nextly high OI/SOD ratio. In the cases of active Behcet's disease, severe cement dermatitis and untreated, active SLE with similar behaviours, the ratio was also elevated. Since in these patients, marked tissue injury has been reported to be found, the present study revealed that the examination of the difference between OI levels and SOD activity is closely related to the tissue injury analysis.In the patients with bacterial infections an increase of both OI generation and SOD activity was observed. And the cases of viral infections and various cancers showed a slight decrease of both OI production and SOD activity. In the patients with these three disorders, OI/SOD ratio was within normal levels. Asymptomatic heavy smokers with more than 40 pieces of cigarettes a day for 20 years of longer showed a remarkable increase in OI generation sufficiently accompanied by enhanced SOD activity. However, two cases which had been considered to be asymptomatic but were revealed lung cancer 7-10 months later, had not shown an increase in SOD activity, leading to a markedly elevated ratio of OI/SOD. OI/SOD ratio which the authors proposed in this study seems to work as an indicator of tissue injury induced by increasingly produced OI and further possibly predict the asymptomatic individuals in pre-cancer stage.

Superoxide dismutase activity, caeruloplasmin activity and lipoperoxide levels in tumour and host tissues of mice bearing the Lewis lung carcinoma

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, plasma caeruloplasmin activity and the level of whole tissue and subcellular lipoperoxides have been determined in normal and neoplastic tissues from control and tumour-bearing mice, measurements being made nine, twelve and fifteen days after the inoculation of Lewis lung carcinoma cells. SOD activity of host liver and lung tissues did not vary significantly from those of the control animals. Blood SOD activity of the tumoured animals was markedly elevated on the ninth and twelfth days after inoculation, decreasing to control levels on the fifteenth day. Tumor SOD diminished from an activity on the ninth day which was greater than that for control lung to a level significantly lower than that for control lung on the twelfth and fifteenth days after inoculation. The presence of a tumour did not appear to affect plasma caeruloplasmin oxidase levels. The lipoperoxide level of hepatic tissue rose significantly as the tumour progressed. In the lung tissue the lipoperoxides decreased from a level four times higher on the ninth day to one not significantly different from that of the controls. Tumour lipoperoxides were about twice the level of hepatic tissue and of the order of ten-fold greater than those of lung. The level of lipoperoxide in the plasma of tumoured mice did not differ markedly from that of control mice. Assays of lipoperoxide in subcellular fractions of liver, lung and tumour tissue revealed that the elevated lipoperoxide was principally synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum.