Effect of Cross-Sex Hormonal Replacement on Antioxidant Enzymes in Rat Retroperitoneal Fat Adipocytes

Abstract EN

We report the effect of cross-sex hormonal replacement on antioxidant enzymes from rat retroperitoneal fat adipocytes.

Eight rats of each gender were assigned to each of the following groups: control groups were intact female or male (F and M, resp.).

Experimental groups were ovariectomized F (OvxF), castrated M (CasM), OvxF plus testosterone (OvxF + T), and CasM plus estradiol (CasM + E2) groups.

After sacrifice, retroperitoneal fat was dissected and processed for histology.

Adipocytes were isolated and the following enzymatic activities were determined: Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR).

Also, glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured.

In OvxF, retroperitoneal fat increased and adipocytes were enlarged, while in CasM rats a decrease in retroperitoneal fat and small adipocytes are observed.

The cross-sex hormonal replacement in F rats was associated with larger adipocytes and a further decreased activity of Cu-Zn SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GR, and GSH, in addition to an increase in LPO.

CasM + E2 exhibited the opposite effects showing further activation antioxidant enzymes and decreases in LPO.

In conclusion, E2 deficiency favors an increase in retroperitoneal fat and large adipocytes.

Cross-sex hormonal replacement in F rats aggravates the condition by inhibiting antioxidant enzymes.