Chronic oxidative stress induces a tissue-specific reduction in telomere length in CAST/Ei mice.

We examine whether increased oxidative stress in vivo promotes telomere shortening in CAST/Ei mice. We explored the effects of L-buthionine sulfoximine treatment (BSO) on telomere length. BSO shortened telomere length in white fat, brown fat, skin, tail, and testis in concert with diminished tissue glutathione content, increased tissue carbonyl content, and increased plasma advanced oxidized protein products. Telomerase activity was mainly detected in testis but no reduction of telomerase activity was observed in response to BSO. In conclusion, BSO-mediated increase in systemic oxidative stress shortens telomeres in several tissues of the mouse. The variable effect of BSO treatment on telomere length in different tissue may result from their different adaptive antioxidative capacity.