We have evaluated the effect of exercise, Vitamin E and a combination of both on the antioxidant enzymes (AOEs)-superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) along with the products of lipid peroxidation (LP)-malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipofuscin-like auto fluorescent substances (LF-like AFS) in discrete brain regions of rats of 4 (young adults), 8 (old adults), 12 (middle-age) and 22 months (mos) old of age. Hippocampus (HC) showed greater increase in GSH-Px activity than cerebral cortex (CC) to exercise and Vitamin E and was irrespective of the age. A combination of both was effective in the CC of all age groups but not in the supplemented sedentary of 12-and 22-mo-olds. CAT activity increased significantly in the HC of supplemented and trained rats but not in the combination group of any age. SOD increased in both the regions of supplemented trainees. However, old were more benefited in terms of maximal elevation in the HC. Vitamin E reduced MDA content in both regions of adult. LF-like AFS decreased significantly in supplemented sedentary and trainees of all ages. Our results demonstrate that an age-related deficit in AOEs in the CC and HC can be overcome through Vitamin E plus exercise, and further suggests the rationale for looking at these markers of oxidative stress in several age-related neuronal diseases.

We examined a suitable swim program of different intensities and durations that could evoke changes in the myocardial antioxidant capacity in 22-month-old rats. Male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were assigned to either a sedentary control (SE-C) group or one of six trainee groups. Animals were swim-exercised for 4 weeks with either 20 min or 40 miny day, and three intensities, low, moderate and high. Low-intensity at 20 minyday elicited maximum swim velocity (S ) v and endurance capacity (P-0.05). While serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels were significantly reduced, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) showed an increase (P-0.05) in low-intensity trained rats (20 minyday) over SE-C. Notable reduction in blood lactate was also evident. Exercise training significantly increased superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), decreased lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde and lipofuscin in the left and right ventricles. Increased Mn-SOD with concomitant decrease in lipofuscin in left ventricle was significantly greater than in right ventricle. Moderate-to high-intensity exercise was not effective in either reducing lipid peroxidation products or elevating Mn-SOD activity. These data suggest that swim training at low-intensity of 20 minyday is beneficial as a major protective adaptation against oxidative stress in old myocardium. ᮊ

Region-wise interactive effects of age, swim intensity, and duration on exercise performance in the myocardium and serum lipid profile in young (4 months) and middle-aged (12 months) rats were examined. Animals were allocated to the sedentary control (SE-C) or one of the nine trainee groups. Swim training was for 6 days/week and for 4 weeks at 3 durations (20, 40, and 60 min/day) and intensities (2%, low; 3%, medium; 5%, high). Swim velocity and external work showed an age-related decline with low-intensity of 20 min/day in the middle aged. Reduction in serum cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and triglycerides were accompanied by elevated levels in high-density lipoprotein in the low-to-moderately trained ones for 20 and 40 min/day. Training at 2%, intensity for 20 min/day was sufficient to alter the blood lipid profile and improve swim performance, and endurance in terms of blood lactate. A concomitant increase in Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity and reduced malondialdehyde in the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) were evident. Lipofuscin was higher in the LV compared to RV. Our results reflect the minimization of free radical generation through appropriate exercise protocols. Our findings on improved blood lipid profile could be related to lower free radicals, which would otherwise oxidize LDLs. Further, swim training when initiated in the young and middle age for as low as 20 min/day at 2% intensity improves the Mn-SOD in the LV and RV. However, the adaptive response of the LV was weaker when compared to the RV, more so in the middle aged.

The main aim of this work is to provide basic data on the aspects of pro-oxidant and antioxidant processes in different life stages of Eudrilus eugeniae. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), along with the byproducts of lipid and protein oxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC), content were determined in the whole body of juvenile, sub-adult and adult earthworms. The SOD activity significantly (P < 0.05) decreased during development from juvenile to adult, while CAT activity showed an increase with advancing age. The MDA content significantly increased in the adult compared to other age groups. The protein carbonyl content showed insignificant changes with respect to age. Our results suggest that the decline in SOD activity coupled with increased levels of MDA implicate the susceptibility of older animals to oxidative stress.

We investigated the influence of 2-furan-2-yl-1H-benzimidazole regarding vitamins A, E, C, selenium (Se), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels on rats. 2-Furan-2-yl-1H-benzimidazole was given to rats by subcutaneous injection every other day for a total of 22 injections. At the end of the experiment, Se levels were determined by using a fluorimetric method. Serum levels of vitamins A, E, C, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels of erythrocytes were spectrophotometrically determined. Our experimental results showed that vitamins A, E, C, and Se levels were found generally lower than the control groups, while serum MDA level and GSH-Px activity flexibly increased, which is dependent on injection days. The observed decreases in vitamins A, E, C, and Se levels in the blood might be causally related to the increased amount of free radicals that are generated with 2-furan-2-yl-1H-benzimidazole injection. However, further investigations are needed to clarify the significance of this observation in respect with the 2-furan-2-yl-1H-benzimidazole injection.

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