Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in the Heart, Liver, and Kidney of Bat Species with Different Feeding Habits

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the oxidative metabolism of four neotropical bat species with different feeding habits and investigate the relationship between their feeding habits and oxidative status. In terms of oxidative damage, our findings revealed major differences among the four bat species. In particular, hematophagous bats had lower levels of oxidative damage in the heart but higher levels in the liver. Nectarivorous bats had lower levels of carbonyl groups in the kidneys compared to insectivorous and hematophagous bats. The activity of various antioxidant and non-antioxidant enzymes in the heart, liver, and kidney also showed significant differences among the bat species. H2O2 consumption was lower in the heart of hematophagous bats, while insectivorous bats exhibited the highest enzymatic activity in the kidney. SOD activity was lower in the heart of hematophagous bats and lower in nectarivorous bats in the liver. Fumarase activity was higher in the heart of frugivorous/insectivorous and lower in nectarivorous/hematophagous bats. GPx activity was higher in the heart of nectarivorous/insectivorous and higher in the kidney of insectivorous bats. GST activity was higher in the heart of nectarivorous and lower in hematophagous bats. The correlation analysis between oxidative markers and enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidants in the heart, liver, and kidney exhibited distinct patterns of correlations due to variations in antioxidant defense mechanisms and oxidative stress responses in different organs. The observed differences in oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activities, and correlations between oxidative markers and antioxidants highlight the adaptability and complexity of the antioxidant defense systems in these bats. Each organ appears to have specific demands and adaptations to cope with oxidative stress based on its physiological functions and exposure to dietary components. Our results have major significance for the conservation and management of bats, which are threatened species despite being crucial components of ecosystems. Our study’s implications go beyond bat biology and offer valuable insights into comparative oxidative physiology.

Distribution and Utilization of Vitamin E in Different Organs of Wild Bats from Different Food Groups

“…The correlation between VitE measured in this study and other biochemical parameters (oxidative markers antioxidant measured in our previous studies [4,6] are presented in Table 2 (for the heart) and Table 3 (for the liver).…”

“…In this study, vitamin E levels in the heart, liver, and kidneys of four species of adult male bats from various dietary groups were assessed and compared. Details on each bat species may be found in our previous work [6].…”

“…Table 1 provides the scientific name of each bat species, their feeding habits, and the season of sample collection. The capturing process, organ removal, and storage details were previously documented [6]. In summary, from summer 2018 to winter 2019, 39 adult male bats were captured in southern Brazil.…”

“…We compared the levels of vitamin E measured in this study with the levels of different antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress marker levels measured in our previous studies [4,6]. We calculated Spearman correlation coefficients for pairs of variables and tested their significance using two-tailed tests.…”

Comparative Analysis of the Gut Microbiota of Bat Species with Different Feeding Habits

“…Figure 1 shows the locations of the collection sites and coordinates. Our previous study provided a detailed description of the capture procedure [ 21 ]. To summarize, over the summer of 2018 and the winter of 2019, 33 adult male bats were caught in southern Brazil.…”