TDK conference 2017

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in industrialised countries which displays significant gender-based differences. Most cardiovascular diseases are connected with cellular and tissue damage caused by a long-term exposure to oxidative stress. It is also known that lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Testing myocardial characteristics in the human heart can often be hard or impossible to perform. Because of their anatomical, histological and biochemical cardiovascular similarities, swine are concidered to be the best animal models for cardiovascular research.

This study aimed to investigate potential gender-related differences of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in swine's blood serum and myocardium. The study was conducted on 15 clinically healthy sexually mature pigs (5 boars, 5 females and 5 males castrated). Blood samples were taken by puncture v. jugularis in tubes without anticoagulant (Vacutainer tubes with BD SSt II gel, Plymouth, UK). In the obtained blood serum the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-RD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as concentrations of triacylglycerols, fofsolipids, cholesterol, HDLcholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. In heart muscle (left ventricle) samples the activities of GSH-Px, GSH-RD, SOD, GGT and LDH, and concentrations of triacylglycerols, fofsolipids, cholesterol and MDA were determined.

The results showed that females have significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of total cholesterol, phospholipids and GSH-Px in the blood serum, but not significantly higher (p > 0.05) levels of GGT, LDH, triacylglycerols and HDL-cholesterol compared to the respective levels in male swine. At the same time, the boars had higher levels of GSH-RD, SOD, LDL-cholesterol, FFA and MDA in the blood serum than females. Results from myocardial tissue correspond to the ones measured in the blood serum, with the exception of GSH-RD, LDH, SOD and triacylglycerols levels. Measured GSHRD, LDH and SOD acitvities were higher in females than those in males, and the triacylglycerols levels were lower in females. Castrated males had significantly higher (p <0.05) concentration of MDA in blood serum and myocardium than females.

The most favorable LDL:HDL and GSH-Px:SOD ratio in the blood serum, and the lowest levels of lipid peroxidation indicator (MDA) in the blood serum and myocardium were found in females, suggesting their better antioxidative resistance.