title: Relationship between oxidative stress and cardiomyopathic changes in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Menopause has a negative effect on cardiovascular functions. However, very little is known of the overall effect of menopause on the cardiac ultrastructure or the pathophysiological basis of this.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 12-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated to healthy control (n = 6) and ovariectomy groups (n = 6). Twelve weeks after ovariectomy, the rats' cardiac tissues were histopathologically analyzed for determination of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes [activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and amount of glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the control group, the ovariectomy group showed cardiomyopathic changes. In tissue, activities of CAT (185 ± 2.4 vs. 112 ± 1.4 mmol/min/mg tissue; p < 0.05), SOD (153 ± 1.0 vs. 146 ± 0.7 mmol/min/mg tissue; p < 0.05) and MPO (19 ± 0.8 vs. 8.6 ± 0.11 μmol/min/mg tissue; p < 0.05) and LPO levels (32.1 ± 0.77 vs. 14.4 ± 0.20 nmol/g tissue; p < 0.05) were significantly increased in the ovariectomy group when compared to the control group. However, GSH levels (3.43 ± 0.02 vs. 3.73 ± 0.01 nmol/g tissue; p < 0.05) were significantly lower in the ovariectomy group when compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using an experimental animal model, we were able to demonstrate that menopause causes cardiomyopathic changes, and we propose that these changes could be mediated by oxidative stress.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Ataturk University Medical School, Erzurum, Turkey. drenbiya @ yahoo.com
authors: Enbiya
authors: E
authors: Aksakal
authors: Nurhan
authors: N
authors: Akaras
authors: Ibrahim H
authors: IH
authors: Tanboga
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Kurt
authors: Zekai
authors: Z
authors: Halici
authors: Fehmi
authors: F
authors: Odabasoglu
authors: Bunyamin
authors: B
authors: Unal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione