Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in the Brain of Bat Species with Different Feeding Habits

Abstract

Assessing the levels of oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in the brain is crucial in evaluating its antioxidant capacity and understanding the influence of various dietary patterns on brain well-being. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant status and oxidative damage in the brain of bat species with different feeding habits to gain insights into their protective mechanisms against oxidative stress and their interspecific variation. The levels of oxidative damage markers and the activities of antioxidants were measured in the brain of four bat species with different feeding habits, namely insectivorous, frugivorous, nectarivorous, and hematophagous. Insectivorous bats showed higher levels of SOD and fumarase compared to the other groups, while hematophagous bats showed lower levels of these enzymes. On the other hand, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were higher in hematophagous bats and lower in insectivorous bats. The carbonyl groups and malondialdehyde levels were lower in frugivores, while they were similar in the other feeding guilds. Nitrite and nitrate levels were higher in the hematophagous group and relatively lower in all other groups. The GSSG/GSH ratio was higher in the hematophagous group and lower in frugivores. Overall, our results indicate that the levels of oxidative stress markers and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the brain vary significantly among bat species with different feeding habitats. The findings suggest that the antioxidant status of the brain is influenced by diet and feeding habits.

Toward Enhanced Plant Immunity: Unveiling the Role of Brassinosteroids in Abiotic and Biotic Stress Response

“…They regulate physiological and metabolic processes, acting in a paracrine or autocrine manner. BR biosynthesis genes are widely distributed, and their long-term effects depend on interactions with other hormones [2, 20,36,38,118].…”

“…BR contribute to plant protection by enhancing physiological processes, such as growth, organogenesis, and adaptation to environmental changes. They interact with other hormones like auxins and gibberellins and are transported intracellularly from synthesis sites to cell membranes and endosomal compartments [38,118]. However, BR transport occurs from their synthesis sites in the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell membrane and early endosomal compartments, where they are received through passive or active intracellular transport.…”

“…Mitigation of Oxidative Stress Effects: BR helps plants protect against oxidative stress by neutralizing reactive oxygen species and preventing cell damage [24,118].…”

“…Oxidative stress prevention: Acting as antioxidants, BR helps plants protect against oxidative damage caused by environmental stresses like UV radiation or air pollution [24,36,113,118].…”