ABSTRACT
In this study we have focused on the levels of lipofuscin, monoamine oxidase and cholesterol phospholipid ratio in the heart muscle of young, middle aged and aged rats. In parallel, we have also investigated the levels of carnitine and lipoic acid during aging. We observed an increase in lipofuscin accumulation and monoamine oxidase activity in both middle aged and aged rats. Levels of both carnitine and lipoic acid decreased along with a decrease in cholesterol phospholipid ratio. These changes were normalized upon cosupplementation of carnitine and lipoic acid. Our results thus reveal that carnitine along with lipoic acid can be used as an effective supplement against free radical induced damage to the cardiac tissue.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Carnitine/pharmacology , Lipofuscin/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism , Myocardium/metabolism , Thioctic Acid/pharmacology , Aging/metabolism , Animals , Dietary Supplements , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Oxidative Stress , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: High Spirulina diet is a potential risk factor for nephrolithiasis since it has the capacity to increase urinary oxalate and uric acid level, facilitating lithogenesis. Our aim was to identify the effect of Spirulina diet during hyperoxaluric condition in Wistar albino rats. METHODS: The animals were divided into four groups: control (Gl, n=6); ethylene glycol (EG) induced (G2, n=6); EG+Spirulina (G3, n=6); Spirulina alone (G4, n=6). EG at 0.75% was administered to G2 and G3 through drinking water for 4 weeks and Spirulina 1500 mg/kg feed was administered to G3 and G4. RESULTS: Urinary parameters like oxalate, uric acid, calcium, urea, and creatinine (P<0.001) were found increased after Spirulina diet under hyperoxaluric conditions compared to the same without Spirulina diet. Similarly the BUN, plasma contents of uric acid, urea, creatinine (P<0.001) were found to be raised in G3. The renal and RBC GSH levels, as estimated by HPLC, seemed decreased when compared to G2. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that free radicals aid in the progression of nephrolithiasis. The crystal deposition was found to be high in the renal cells of G3 than G2 and TEM revealed damage in renal cell of G3 implying that the disease deteriorates by free radical injury. In contrast the Spirulina diet alone (G4) did not induce any features relating to stone forming condition suggesting that free radical release might have been suppressed due to enrichment of dietary antioxidants and vitamins. Thus the present investigation demonstrates that during hyperoxaluric conditions the Spirulina diet must possibly be avoided and can be considered in normal subjects checked for family history of renal stone deposition.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/adverse effects , Kidney Calculi/etiology , Kidney/metabolism , Animals , Bacterial Proteins/administration & dosage , Biomarkers/blood , Biomarkers/urine , Blood Urea Nitrogen , Calcium/urine , Calcium Oxalate/urine , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Creatinine/urine , Disease Models, Animal , Free Radicals/adverse effects , Glomerular Filtration Rate/physiology , Kidney/cytology , Kidney/pathology , Kidney/ultrastructure , Kidney Calculi/chemistry , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Osteopontin , Random Allocation , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Risk Factors , Sialoglycoproteins , Spirulina , Urea/urine , Uric Acid/blood , Uric Acid/urineABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oxidative damage is hypothesized to accumulate throughout the lifetime of an organism, eventually giving rise to aging. The mitochondria may be the primary cellular source and target of endogenous ROS as they are produced as a normal byproduct of the electron transport system. METHODS: Male albino Wistar rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into 6 groups, each group consisting of 6 animals. Groups I, III, and V were young, middle-aged and aged control rats and Groups II, IV, and VI were treated with carnitine (300 mg/kg bw) and dl-alpha-lipoic acid (150 mg/kg bw), respectively. After the treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and the heart and skeletal muscle were removed for analysis. RESULT: There was a significant reduction in the levels of antioxidants in both middle-aged and aged rats whereas the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were found to be increased. Co-supplementation of carnitine and lipoic acid improved the antioxidant status and brought down the levels of TBARS. CONCLUSION: Co-supplementation of lipoic acid with carnitine has a beneficial effect in reversing the age-related abnormalities seen in aging. This effect was associated with the decrease in free radical production and rise in antioxidant levels by carnitine and lipoic acid, thereby lowering oxidative stress.
