Abstract
Advanced aging is characterized by modification of circadian rhythms of physiological, biochemical and endocrine variables. Oxidative stress has been implicated to play a major role in aging and age-related diseases. In the present experiments, we investigated the effect of S-allyl cysteine (SAC) on young and aged rats by studying 24 h rhythms of lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances-TBARS) and antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In treatment with SAC, aging processes were found to delay TBARS and to advance GSH, catalase, SOD and Gpx acrophases. Amplitude, ‘r’ and mesor values of these rhythms (decreased mesor of TBARS associated with increased antioxidant activities) were found during aging processes. Furthermore, this study indicates the necessity to perform more research to reveal the temporal interplay between the central biological clock (SCN), oxidative–antioxidative imbalances and aging processes.
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