Increased macromolecular damage due to oxidative stress in the neocortex and hippocampus of WNIN/Ob, a novel rat model of premature aging.
Wistar of the National Institute of Nutrition obese (WNIN/Ob) is a unique rat strain isolated and established at NIN, Hyderabad, India, in 1996, from its existing stock of Wistar rat colony (WNIN). This animal model exhibits all traits of metabolic syndrome and has a remarkably reduced lifespan (1.5 years as compared to 3 years in parental WNIN rats), albeit, the factors associated with premature aging are not well understood. Considering that oxidative stress and DNA damage are crucial players associated with senescence, we analyzed oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation; DNA damage in terms of both single-stranded and double-stranded breaks and the activity of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase and catalase in brain regions of these animals. Our study revealed that the magnitude of oxidative stress and DNA damage in the neocortex and hippocampus of 3-month-old WNIN/Ob obese rats is as high as that seen in 15-month-old parental WNIN control rats. Concurrently, the antioxidant enzyme activity was significantly decreased. From these results, it can be concluded that increased oxidative stress-induced damage of macromolecules, probably due to reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes, is associated with premature aging in WNIN/Ob obese rats.
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: jitendrakumarsinha@gmail.com.
J K
JK
Sinha
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: g.shampa17@gmail.com.
S
S
Ghosh
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Kukatpally, Hyderabad 500085, India. Electronic address: uswain@gmail.com.
U
U
Swain
National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences, NIN, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: nappanveettil@yahoo.co.in.
N V
NV
Giridharan
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: mraghunath55@yahoo.com.
M
M
Raghunath
D000367:Age Factors; D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D019579:Neocortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
DNA damage; antioxidant enzyme activity; brain aging; comet assay; obesity; reduced lifespan