Effect of aging on enzymatic antioxidant defenses in rat liver mitochondria.

Antioxidant defenses within liver mitochondria are pivotal in preventing liver damage from oxidative toxicants. In this study we determined the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GRD) in mitochondria from livers of variously aged Fischer 344 rats. A mixed pattern of age-associated alterations in mitochondrial antioxidant activities was observed. In male rats, GRD activity decreased in old age, whereas GPO and SOD activities increased. In female rats, GPO activity decreased with age, but SOD activity increased and GRD activity was unchanged. Age-associated decreases in antioxidant protection from mitochondrial enzymes appeared to be counterbalanced by increases in protection from other enzymes.