ANALYSIS OF THE REDOX STATUS OF SUBMANDIBULAR GLANDS OF YOUNG ADULT WISTAR RATS TREATED WITH HIGH DOSE ANABOLIC STEROID

• Grant number: 22/11245-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Hernandes Chaves Neto
• Grantee: Heloisa Rodrigues dos Santos Landim
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent decades, the abusive and indiscriminate use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a serious health problem. Although several adverse effects of AAS have been described, the possible effects on the salivary glands are unknown. Therefore, the objective of this work will be to analyze the redox status of the submandibular glands of young adult Wistar rats treated with a high dose of AAS. For that, twenty-four Wistar rats, with 3 months of age, will be randomly distributed in two experimental groups (n=12): control group (C) and testosterone cypionate group (CT). AAS (testosterone cypionate) at a dose of 20 mg/kg will be injected intramuscularly, weekly, for 6 weeks. After the experimental period, the animals will be euthanized and the plasma obtained will be used for testosterone measurement and analysis of liver function using the enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Subsequently, the submandibular glands will be removed, cleaned, weighed and stored at -80°C. Submandibular gland homogenates will be processed for biochemical analysis through spectrophotometric assays: a) total protein content; b) lipid oxidative damage; c) protein oxidative damage; e) non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity will be evaluated by the antioxidant power of total ferric reduction, reduced glutathione and uric acid; f) enzymatic antioxidant capacity will be determined by the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The normality and homoscedasticity of the data will be analyzed and they will be submitted to the most appropriate parametric or non-parametric test. For all tests, the level of rejection of the null hypothesis will be set at 5% (p < 0.05).