Fenilketonüri Modelinde Cinsiyete Bağlı Kolinerjik Sistem Değişiklikleri

IntroductionPhenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. The absence of this enzyme leads to elevated levels of phenylalanine in the blood, causing accumulation in the brain and resulting in permanent brain damage. To investigate the neurological effects of PKU, an experimental PKU model was developed, and cholinergic parameters were analyzed in brain tissue and serum from both female and male rats. In this study, serum BChE, AChE, and total ChE enzyme activities were examined, while AChE enzyme activity was specifically analyzed in hippocampal tissue.Materials and MethodsIn this study, brain tissue and serum samples were collected from female and male rats with an induced phenylketonuria model for analysis. BChE, AChE, and total ChE enzyme activities were measured in serum samples, while AChE enzyme activity was examined in hippocampal tissue. In the female PKU group, AChE activity was found to be 34.67±2.94 µU/mg, compared to 24.28±3.78 µU/mg in the female control group. Similarly, in the male PKU group, hippocampal AChE enzyme activity was 30.32±3.85 µU/mg, while it was 4.21±0.72 µU/mg in the male control group.ResultsHippocampal AChE enzyme activity was significantly increased in both PKU groups compared to the control groups (Male ***p=0.0001; female *p=0.046). Serum analysis revealed decreased total serum cholinergic activity in both the female and male PKU groups compared with the control groups (**p≤0.002 and ***p≤0.0003, respectively). These results were consistent with findings from total serum cholinergic activity analysis. Additionally, the AChE enzyme activity in both the female and male PKU groups was decreased compared to their respective control groups (***p≤0.002 and ***p≤0.0006, respectively). It was also found that BChE enzyme activity in the serum of male rats in the PKU group was decreased compared to male rats in the control group (*p=0.038).ConclusionThese findings indicate that the elements of the cholinergic system in the phenylketonuria model may vary according to gender. The observed changes in both brain tissue and serum provide new insights into the gender-dependent neurological effects of PKU.