SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE AND GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITIES ARE INCREASED BY ENALAPRIL AND CAPTOPRIL IN MOUSE-LIVER

We have characterized the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ) inhibitors on the activity of CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase, and selenium-dependent glu tathione peroxidase (Se-GPx), CF1 mice (4-month-old females) were admi nistered water containing enalapril (20 mg/l) or captopril (50 mg/l), during 4 to 11 weeks, After 11 weeks, enalapril treatment caused an in crease in the activity of CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD and Se-GPx, from 19 +/- 4 t o 46 +/- 7, 2.1 +/- 0.2 to 3.8 +/- 0.2 units/mg protein and 27 +/- 3 t o 54 +/- 3 milliunits/mg protein, respectively. After 11 weeks, captop ril treatment increased the activities (P < 0.05) of CuZn-SOD, MnSOD a nd Se-GPx to 35 +/- 4, 2.9 +/- 0.2 units/mg protein, and 38 +/- 2 mill iunits/mg protein, respectively. Catalase activity was not affected by the treatments. These results suggest that ACE inhibitors may protect cell components from oxidative damage by increasing the enzymatic ant ioxidant defenses.