Assessment of oxidative stress in different age groups of healthy felines

• Grant number: 24/03050-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Breno Fernando Martins de Almeida
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Cazini da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro Universitário Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos. Fundação Educacional Miguel Mofarrej. Ourinhos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems in the body, which commonly results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, affecting the functional and structural integrity of biological tissues. Aging is associated with the accumulation of molecular damage, recent studies suggest that such damage contributes to aging, highlighting free radical reactions and other reactive oxygen species as the main causes of this damage. However, until now, not enough studies have been carried out to adequately determine the impact of age on oxidative stress parameters in felines. In this context, the present project aims to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress increases as healthy felines age. To this end, 15 felines aged 0 to 1 year old, 15 felines aged 1 to 6 years old, 15 felines aged 7 to 10 years old and 15 felines aged over 10 years old will be selected, all clinically healthy and with no changes in the screening exams ( blood count and biochemical profile with albumin, total protein, globulin, creatinine, urea, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase), from which blood will be obtained by jugular puncture always at the same time of the day. Hematological analyzes will be carried out in an automated veterinary cell counter with differential leukocyte count and morphological analyzes in blood smears using optical microscopy. Biochemical determinations will be carried out in an automated photocolorimeter using a set of commercial reagents and following the manufacturers' recommendations. Oxidative stress will be determined in an automated photocolorimeter by evaluating the total antioxidant capacity (CAT) using four methods: equivalent to trolox by inhibiting the reduction of the ABTS cation (CAT-ABTS), inhibition of the reduction of the ABTS cation associated with peroxidase (CAT-ABTS +HRP), ferric (CAT-FRAP) and cupric (CAT- CUPRAC) reduction; in addition to determining the total oxidizing capacity (TOC), lipid peroxidation by substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and the antioxidants uric acid and albumin. The variables will be tested for normality and differences between groups will be verified by ANOVA tests with Tukey's post-test or Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn's post-test, being considered significant when p<0.05.