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Abstract
The male reproductive tract of the Brown Norway rat is
profoundly affected by aging. In the epididymis, the site
of sperm maturation and storage, aging results in
histological and biochemical changes that are suggestive
of oxidative stress. Vitamin E is a potent lipid soluble
antioxidant that ameliorates the oxidative stress load
associated with some chronic disease conditions. To
determine the effects of long term (18 month) vitamin E
deficiency and supplementation on aging in the epididymis,
we assessed gene expression changes using cDNA microarrays
and lipid peroxidation using immunohistochemical detection
of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in 24 month old rats. Plasma
vitamin E levels were significantly lower in vitamin E
deficient animals, and higher in vitamin E supplemented
animals, compared to age matched controls. Vitamin E
deficiency resulted in increased expression of oxidative
stress related transcripts along the epididymis. This
effect was most marked in the corpus epididymidis where
expression of glutathione S-transferases pi, 8 and mu as
well as superoxide dismutase increased by over 50%. The
effect of vitamin E supplementation on the expression of
oxidative stress related transcripts was primarily
decreased expression; however, the magnitude of the gene
expression changes was smaller than that observed for
vitamin E deficiency. 4-HNE immunostaining was present
throughout the epididymis in control animals. Vitamin E
deficiency both increased the intensity and altered the
distribution of 4-HNE staining, while vitamin E
supplementation had no observable effect. In summary we
found that long-term vitamin E treatment alters the
expression of oxidative stress related transcripts.
Moreover long term vitamin E deficiency exacerbates the
effects of age on the accumulation of oxidative stress
damage in the epididymis.
Key words:
Male Reproductive Tract •
Aging •
Epididymis •
Stress
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