Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in sheep organs

The enzyme activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TEARS) content were measured in tissue extracts of the liver, kidney and lung of sheep in a nonpolluted control area (C), a polluted area pasture (PP) and those from polluted areas but fed in the laboratory with an experimental emission supplement diet: (EEF). Compared with the control SOD, activity was significantly increased (1.75 times) only in the liver of the PP group. In the EEF group there was a tendency toward lower activities in all organs. The Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes pattern analyzed by isoelectrofocusing was different in the organs of the animals exposed to pollutants when compared with those of the controls. In the liver, two new isoenzymes with pi 5.30 and 5.70 were found in the PP group and an additional isoenzyme with pi 5.10 in the EEF group. The kidney isoenzymes with pi 5.30 and 5.40 were inhibited in the EEF group. In the lung, two new isoenzymes appeared with pi 5.30 and 5.40 in the PP group and two new isoenzymes with pi 6.10 and 6.50 in the EEF group. GSHPx activity was inhibited in the liver and kidney of the sheep exposed to pollutants. GR activity was significantly changed only in the liver. The activity in the PP group was 2.30 and 2.10 times higher than in the C and EEF groups, respectively. TEARS content was increased in the liver and kidney of the EEF group compared with the control. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.