Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes activity and concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidants in human brain tumours.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED The purpose of our research was to assess the activity of GSH-Px, GSSG-R, SOD-1 and concentration of GSH, Vit.C and reactive substances with thiobarbituric acid, in brain tumours with Ist, IInd, IIIrd and IVth levels of biological malignancy. The research was conducted in 105 samples obtained from patients undergoing surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical University of Bialystok between the years 1996-2001. The obtained values of the above enzyme activities and the concentration of the examined substances in brain tumours were compared to the control values determined in 15 samples of histopathology unchanged nerve tissue. THE RESULTS: The increase in all enzymes activities in brain tumours is statistically significant (p < 0.05) as compared to the control level in normal nerve tissue alto a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of the GSH and ascorbate concentration and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the examined brain tumours was found in comparison to the concentration of the above substances in normal nerve tissue.