Aging is characterized by an imbalance in cellular redox status due to an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decreased activity of the cellular antioxidant defenses. Spermatozoa are highly susceptible to oxidative stress and hence this mechanism likely plays a causal role in the deficiencies associated with aging and male reproduction. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of age on antioxidant enzymatic activity, ROS production, and lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa along the epididymis of the Brown Norway rat. Aging significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase (Gpx)-1, Gpx4 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and also significantly increased the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2•-). Further, lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly increased in aged spermatozoa. These results indicate that aged spermatozoa are less capable of dealing with oxidative stress and provide a basis for the understanding of decreased spermatozoal quality in aging.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.101806 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Weir, Cameron, 1981- |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics.) |
| Rights | © Cameron Weir, 2006 |
| Relation | alephsysno: 002585943, proquestno: AAIMR32871, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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