Abstract
Summary
The age-related development of the activity levels of the pulmonary an-tioxidant defense systems: superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase, were examined in the rat. All the pulmonary antioxidant enzymes studied showed a lower activity at two days before term than at birth. From day 12 to 70, with the exception of catalase, these enzymes and reduced glutathione generally showed a gradual increase in activity levels with age. Pulmonary catalase activity, however, was lower in the older rats compared to the younger animals. No significant differences were found in the various pulmonary enzyme activities and glutathione levels between male and female rats.
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