Ma. Orsilles et M. Depiantedepaoli, OXIDATIVE STRESS-RELATED PARAMETERS IN PROSTATE OF RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE PROSTATITIS, The Prostate, 34(4), 1998, pp. 270-274
BACKGROUND. Oxidative stress in tissues can be provoked by an augmente
d metabolic rate, which may sometimes be combined with a decrease in t
he antioxidant capacity. METHODS. In this study we examined the primar
y enzymatic defense mechanisms against the damage caused by reactive o
xygen species (ROS): the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activ
ities and glutathione content, as well as the levels of total thiobarb
ituric acid-reactant substances (TBARS), indicative of lipid peroxidat
ion. These studies were made in prostate homogenates of rats with expe
rimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) and of control rats treated with
complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or nontreated. RESULTS. The evaluati
on of antioxidant defenses revealed a significant diminution of the ca
talase activity in autoimmune rats without changes in SOD activity and
glutathione content. TEARS levels evidenced a significant increase in
prostate homogenates from autoimmune rats in relation to control rat
samples. CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that in EAP, a marked diminu
tion of catalase activity associated with an enhanced oxidative metabo
lism of inflammatory macrophages might lead to oxidative damage in thi
s autoimmune disease. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.