Developmental Changes of
Erythrocyte Catalase Activity in Rats Exposed to Acute Hypoxia
H. RAUCHOVÁ, M. VOKURKOVÁ, J. KOUDELOVÁ1
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic and Center for Cardiovascular Research and 1Institute
of Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University,
Prague, Czech Republic
Received September 17, 2004
Accepted November 12, 2004
On-line available January 10, 2005
Summary
The erythrocytes represent an important source of antioxidant
capacity of the blood. Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6.) is one of the
enzymatic components of their antioxidant defense system. The
objective of this study was to follow erythrocyte catalase (CAT)
in 7-, 15-, 21-, 35-, 60- and 90-day-old Wistar rats of both
sexes in normoxia and after exposure to intensive acute
hypobaric hypoxia. During the development CAT activity increases
in both sexes, but the rise was usually higher in females.
Hypobaric hypoxia increased CAT activity in all studied age
groups of both sexes. However, higher CAT activity in females
was less affected by hypoxia than the lower activity in males.
This was true for nearly all age groups studied. It can be
concluded that both ontogenetic aspects and sex differences play
a major role in establishing the activity of CAT, which is an
important part of the antioxidant defense of the organism.
Key words
Erythrocyte • Catalase • Development • Sex difference •
Hypobaric hypoxia • Rat
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