Sex-specific divergence of antioxidant pathways in fetal brain, liver, and skeletal muscles.
Free Radic Res
; 50(3): 366-73, 2016.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26765668
ABSTRACT
The sex-specific divergence of antioxidant pathways in fetal organs of opposite-sex twin is unknown and remains urgently in need of investigation. Such study faces many challenges, mainly the ethical impossibility of obtaining human fetal organs. Opposite-sex sheep twins represent a unique model for studying a sex dimorphism for antioxidant systems. The activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), SOD1, SOD2, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT), the content of total glutathione, reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were measured in brain, lung, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscles of female and male fetuses collected from sheep twin pregnancies at day 65 of gestation. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring melondialdehyde (MDA) tissue content. Male brain has greater total SOD and SOD1 activities than female brain. Female liver has greater SOD2 activity than male liver. Male liver has greater GR activity than female liver. Male liver has higher total GSH and GSSG content than female liver. Male skeletal muscles have higher total GSH, GSH, and GSSG content than female skeletal muscles. Female brain and liver have higher MDA content than male brain and liver. This is the first report of a sex dimorphism for fetal organ antioxidative pathways. Brain, liver, and skeletal muscles of male and female fetuses display distinct antioxidant pathways. Such sexually dimorphic responses to early life oxidative stress might be involved in the sex-related difference in fetal development that may have a long-term effect on offspring. Our study urges researchers to take into consideration the importance of sex as a biologic variable in their investigations.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Encéfalo
/
Músculo Esquelético
/
Hígado
/
Antioxidantes
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Aspecto:
Ethics
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Free Radic Res
Asunto de la revista:
BIOQUIMICA
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article