STUDY OF THE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN HUMAN BRAIN-TUMORS

The activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e. Cu, Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, CAT, an d GSH-Px in the normal brain and brain tumors: as well as the two vari eties of SOD in the mitochondria were examined and correlated to the h istopathological diagnosis and the degree of malignancy of tumors. It was found that these scavenging enzymes of oxygen free radicals were e xpressed with great regularity in brain tumors. Both Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn -SOD were decreased in descending order in meningiomas, low grade astr ocytomas, high grade astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. Furthermore, t he reduction of Mn-SOD in mitochondria was proportionate to that of th e whole tissues. While in contrast to the SODs, the CAT levels were si gnificantly increased in ascending order in high grade astrocytomas, l ow grade astrocytomas and meningiomas. GSH-Px increased in meningiomas but not in gliomas