AGE-DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF T-BUOOH ON GLUTATHIONE DISULFIDE REDUCTASE, GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE, AND MALONDIALDEHYDE IN THE BRAIN

Intracerebroventricular t-butyl hydroperoxide has been reported to ind uce damage to many types of brain cells. t-Butyl hydroperoxide adminis tration increases glutathione disulfide levels and decreases levels of glutathione. Young adult mice may be more protected from t-butyl hydr operoxide than mature mice due to their higher glutathione levels, eve n after the adminstration of t-butyl hydroperoxide. This leads to our current study, investigating glutathione peroxidase and glutathione di sulfide reductase in 2-mo-old and 8-mo-old mice. Furthermore, malondia ldehyde levels were measured with the thiobarbituric acid assay and co mpared between the two age groups. Mature mice detoxify glutathione di sulfide less readily than young adult mice. Glutathione disulfide redu ctase activity increases in young adult mice after t-butyl hydroperoxi de administration, but not in mature mice. Glutathione peroxidase acti vity is significantly lower in 8-mo-old than 2-mo-old mouse striatum a fter t-butyl hydroperoxide administration. Furthermore, malondialdehyd e levels in the 8-mo-old striatum increase significantly 20 min after t-butyl hydroperoxide administration. This suggests that age plays a f actor in protective mechanisms that are involved in oxidative stress i n the brain.