ANTI-AGE ANTIBODIES AND MARKERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS AT DIFFERENT AGES

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate anti-AGE antibodies (AGE Abs) and two markers of oxidative stress, copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) in sera of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) at 2, 4 and 8 months. AGE Abs were assessed with direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Significant differences were observed between AGE Abs in 4 and 2 month old SHR (p < 0.001) and between 8 and 4 month old SHR (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between the levels of AGE Abs in SHR and WKY and age (r = 0.636; p = 0.005), (r = 0.420; p = 0.015). The same relation was observed for the serum content of iron and copper in both SHR and WKY. The increase in levels of AGE Abs is directly connected with the increase of advanced glycated end-products with age and their relation with oxidative stress. The evidence for activated processes of oxidative stress is confirmed from the elevation of the serum concentrations of the iron and copper. Iron and copper take part in maintaining the oxidative balance in the organism, and the elevation of their serum concentrations is significant in pathogenicity of hypertension and aging.