title: Gender differences in alcohol-induced oxidative stress and altered membrane properties in erythrocytes of rats.
abstract: Alcohol-induced oxidative stress leads to imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense system, resulting in oxidative damage to membrane components such as lipids and proteins, ultimately altering membrane properties. In this study, we assessed oxidative stress status and alterations in erythrocyte membrane properties in alcohol-administered rats with respect to gender difference. Alcohol (20% v/v) administered rats of both genders showed significant changes in plasma lipid profile with elevated nitrite/nitrate levels. Furthermore, alcohol-administration significantly decreased erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and enhanced erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation, cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) ratio and Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity in both males and females. Besides, anisotropic studies revealed that alcohol-administration significantly decreased erythrocyte membrane fluidity. In conclusion, alcohol-administration significantly increased oxidative stress by decreasing antioxidant status, and subsequent generation of ROS altered membrane properties by altering fluidity and Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity. Female rats were more vulnerable to alcohol-induced biochemical and biophysical changes in plasma and erythrocyte including oxidative stress than male rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 515055, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kindinti Rameshwar
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Vaddi Damodara
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Pannuru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Padmavathi
authors.forename: Godugu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.forename: Bulle
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saradamma
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Varadacharyulu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol