title: Oxidative stress in testis of animals during aging with and without reproductive activity.
abstract: The free radical theory of aging postulates that an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and antioxidant defenses is important in senescence. To address this issue and gain insight into the aging process, we have evaluated the antioxidant defenses and have assessed oxidative damage in testis tissues in aging male rats. In order to relate aging and reproduction, animals with and without reproductive activity were studied. In reproductive animals the results showed a progressive increase in antioxidant enzyme activity until 12 months of age followed by an abrupt fall at 24 months. In non-reproductive animals, antioxidant activity was stable through 12 months of age, but again, fell abruptly at 24 months of age. In addition, increased aconitase activity and increased testosterone levels were found among reproductively active animals. The data demonstrate the existence of metabolic differences in testis of reproductively experienced animals and reproductively naïve animals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Biofísica-IB-UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago Boeira
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Fernanda Schäfer
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Hackenhaar
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Arthur Krumberg
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Schüller
authors.forename: Paulo V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Gil Alabarse
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ehrenbrink
authors.forename: Mara Silveira
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Benfato
mesh_terms: D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013739:Testosterone; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase
keywords: Aging; Oxidative stress; Reproduction; Testis; Testosterone