Regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities in female rat brain by ovarian steroids

Abstract

The sex steroids produce their effects by acting on numerous target tissues and organs, such as the reproductive organs, bone tissue and cartilage, peripheral blood vessels as well as the central nervous system (CNS). In our studies we have monitored the change of enzyme activity of the antioxidant (AO) system in the brain of female rats depending on the ovarian steroids. We have chosen it as a new parameter that might represent an important indicator of the changes within the CNS, bearing in mind the biological importance of the enzymes of the AO system. The experimental results of our study indicate that the enzyme activity of the AO system in the brain tissue of female rats shows a certain dependence on the concentration of ovarian hormones, progesterone and estradiol, in the organism. Study of the activity of the enzymes of the AO system in the brain of female rats depending on the influence of ovarian hormones can answer whether the action of ovarian steroids on the CNS includes maintenance of a dynamic equilibrium of free radicals in the neurons.