The effects of acute exposure to cadmium (Cd) on the blood antioxidant defense system, lipid peroxide concentration and hematological parameters, as well as the possible protective role of vitamin E were studied. Male Wistar albino rats (3 months old) were treated with cadmium (0.4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 h before the experiment) or with vitamin E + Cd (20 IU Vit E/kg b.m., i.m., 48 h + 0.4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 h before the experiment). The hematological parameters were assessed: red blood cell counts, hematocrit value and hemoglobin concentration were significantly decreased in the blood of Cd-treated rats. Intoxication with cadmium was also followed by significantly increased lipid peroxide concentrations. We also observed increased activity of antioxidant defense enzymes: copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase as well as concentrations of non-enzymatic components of antioxidant defense system: reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E. Pretreatment with vitamin E exhibited a protective role on the toxic effects of cadmium on the hematological values, lipid peroxide concentration as well as on enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of antioxidant defense system., B. I. Ognjanović, S. Z. Pavlović, S. D. Maletić, R. V. Žikić, A. Š. Štajn, R. M. Radojičić, Z. S. Saičić, V. M. Petrović., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The brain is widely responsive to gonadal hormones. The functional significance of ovarian hormones in the brain is evident from biochemical studies indicating that estradiol or progesterone treatment of testectomized rats produces changes of antioxidant enzyme activities. The effect of estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) in the control of antioxidant (AO) enzyme activities was studied in the brain of adult male Wistar rats. The activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in appropriate subcellular fractions, prepared from brains of animals belonging to various experimental groups. These groups were designed with the intention to follow changes in enzyme activities 2 h or 24 h after systemic administration of 5 g EB or 2 mg P to testectomized (TX) animals. The obtained results show that both EB and P increase CAT activity, whereas EB decreases GSH-Px, GST and GR activities. These findings clearly show the modulatory role of EB and P in the control of enzymes responsible for the protection of rat nerve cells against oxidative damage caused by free oxygen radicals., S. B. Pajović, Z. S. Saičić, M. B. Spasić, V. M. Petrović., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Total superoxide dismutase (total SOD), copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione- S-transferase (GST) activities as well as ascorbic acid (AsA), and vitamin E (vit E) concentrations were analysed in the liver of rats exposed to cadmium (15 mg Cd/day/kg), selenium (7 fig Se/day/kg), and to cadmium + selenium (15 mg Cd + 7 ptg Se/day/kg), and in control animals. Cadmium caused a decrease of total SOD, Mn SOD, CAT and GSH-Px but an increase of GST activity in the liver of rats. Contrary to cadmium, selenium caused a significant increase of the activity of these enzymes except for GSH-Px. By concomitant exposure to both cadmium and selenium, the toxic effects of cadmium on the activity of mentioned enzymes we abolished. In all exposed groups, the activity of enzyme glutathione-S-transferase was enhanced, indicating its increased role in prevention of lipid peroxidation. Cadmium decreased the concentration of AsA and increased the concentration of vitamin E in the liver, while selenium increased the concentration of both vitamins. However, by concomitant administration of cadmium and selenium, these changes were diminished and tended to reach control values.