Premium
Circadian and age‐related changes in stress responsiveness of the adrenal cortex and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in female rhesus monkeys
Author(s) -
Goncharova Nadezhda D.,
Shmaliy Alla V.,
Marenin Victor Y.,
Smelkova Sophia A.,
Lapin Boris A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1600-0684
pISSN - 0047-2565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2007.00278.x
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , adrenal cortex , endocrinology , medicine , antioxidant , biology , physiology , biochemistry
Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the adrenal cortex in the regulation of antioxidant enzyme defense and to characterize this regulation in different age periods. Methods Five young and five old female rhesus monkeys were subjected to 2 hours squeeze cage restraint stress at 0900 or 1500 hours. Plasma levels of corticosteroids and activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were measured before the stress and 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after beginning of the stress. Results Young monkeys showed a circadian rhythm in stress responsiveness as measured by corticosteroids and glutathione reductase. The rhythm was attenuated in old animals. Age‐related changes in the overall level of response to the afternoon stress were also seen in the corticosteroid and glutathione reductase measures. Conclusions The study demonstrated that corticosteroids play an essential role in the regulation of antioxidant enzyme defense in stress conditions and that the reliability of their regulation decreases with age.