Comparison of the antioxidant system response to melatonin implant in raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and silver fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Authors: SVETLANA SERGINA, IRINA BAISHNIKOVA, VIKTOR ILYUKHA, MARCIN LIS, STANISLAW LAPINSKI, PIOTR NIEDBALA, BOGUSLAW BARABASZ

Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate whether melatonin implant may modify the response of the antioxidant systems of raccoon dog and silver fox. Animals of each species were divided into 2 equal groups: implanted with 12 mg of melatonin in late June and not implanted (control). During the standard fur production process in late November, samples of tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, and heart) were collected and specific activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), retinol, α-tocopherol (TCP), and total tissue protein, were determined in tissue samples. Activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT as well as concentrations of GSH and TCP were considerably higher in organs of raccoon dogs in comparison with silver foxes at the end of autumn fattening. Melatonin implants had no significant effect on the fox antioxidant system in contrast to the raccoon dog. The SOD activity in the liver, kidney, and heart of melatonin-treated raccoon dog considerably decreased, by 25% to 70%. The CAT activity was reduced in the kidney and heart, but it increased in the liver and spleen. Simultaneously, concentrations of GSH in the examined organs of the raccoon dog showed an inverse relationship with CAT activity. In summary, raccoon dogs and silver foxes differ not only in the function of the antioxidant system but also in the response of this system to exogenous melatonin. The rapid fattening evokes oxidative stress, which stimulates the activity of the antioxidant system in this species.

Keywords: Catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, metabolic syndrome, Canidae

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