Sex-specific oxidative stress variations in healthy young rats and changes linked to hepatic encephalopathy: New look into disease mechanisms

Motivation: The absence of preclinical studies examining sexual dimorphism in oxidative stress(OS) in both healthy and in type C-hepatic encephalopathy restricts our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Goal(s): This study aimed to assess sex-related differences in both basal and disease-related OS in young rats. Approach: In-vivo 1H-MRS and ex-vivo ESR-spectroscopy of hippocampus of young male and female rats with C-HE. Results: We observed significant sex-related differences in basal OS in blood and hippocampus as well as in the hippocampal concentration of ascorbate(Asc). Disease progression caused decrease of the hippocampal antioxidants (Asc and glutathione(GSH)) and increase of OS, both CNS and systemic. Impact: Little is known about sex differences in reactive oxygen species (ROS)/antioxidants homeostasis. Here for a first time we've demonstrated a significant sex related difference in the concentration of basal brain ROS and antioxidants followed by distinct changes while disease progression.