Effect of sulfur dioxide inhalation on erythrocyte antioxidant status, food intake, and lipid peroxidation during aging

The effect of sulfur dioxide on red blood cell antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation was investigated in young (3 mo), middle-age (12 mo), and old (24 mo) male albino rats. Ten ppm of sulfur dioxide was administered to th e rats in the sulfur dioxide groups in an exposure chamber. Exposure occurr ed 1 hr/d, 7 d/wk, for 6 wk; control rats were exposed to filtered air duri ng the same time periods. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, glutathione per oxidase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione-S-transferase activities we re significantly decreased in the middle-aged and older groups, compared wi th the young group. Sulfur dioxide exposure significantly decreased copper- zinc superoxide dismutase activity in all experimental groups, compared wit h controls. Sulfur dioxide exposure significantly increased enzyme and glut athione activities.