Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  1997 Dec;7(4):44-50.

Activities of Hepatic Antioxidant Enzymes in Rats during 14 Days of Head-down Suspension as a Model of Simulated Weightlessness

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Physiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Taegu 700-712, Korea.
  • 2Department of Biochemistry, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Taegu 700-712, Korea.
  • 3Department of Institute for Medical Science, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Taegu 700-712, Korea.

Abstract

Cells and tissues of human and animal are protected against free radicals by several complex mechanisms including the action of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase. There had been a few reports that simulated or actual weightlessness induced the decrease in activity of antioxidant enzymes and the increase in lipid peroxidation, The purpose of this study was to observe the time-course variation of antioxidant enzymes activities in rats during 14 days of head-down suspension(HDS) at -45 degrees as a model of simulated weightlessness. During HDS, the hepatic activity of SOD significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 3 day of HDS and then maintained a lower value compared to control horizontal position, GSH-Px activity also significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 3 and 7 day of HDS, thereafter showed a slight increasing trend to control horizontal value. The activity of hepatic catalase increased during HDS and the value at the end of HDS showed significant increase (p<0.05). From these results, there is a possibility that weightlessness induce the increase of oxygen free radicals according to the decrease of some antioxidant enzyme activities. The main scavenger to oxygen free radicals is operated via catalase system in rats during HDS. Therefore, we suggest that it is necessary to administrate the antioxidants for protection of the body against oxygen free radicals during first 1 week after exposure of weightlessness, at least.

Keyword

Antioxidant; Head-down suspension (HDS); Weightlessness; Free radicals

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antioxidants
Catalase
Free Radicals
Glutathione Peroxidase
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation
Oxygen
Rats*
Superoxide Dismutase
Weightlessness*
Antioxidants
Catalase
Free Radicals
Glutathione Peroxidase
Oxygen
Superoxide Dismutase
Full Text Links
  • KJAEM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr