DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 249-257

Aging is a biological phenomenon concerning all living multicellular organisms. It is degenerative process caused by accumulated damaged lipid and protein that leads to cellular dysfunction, tissue failure, and death. In the present study, we attempt to assess the aging induced biochemical and pathological changes in old rats and protective efficacy were tested. Twelve male Wistar rats of two age groups (12 months and 24 monts) were selected for normal saline treated control group (n=6) and DHA treated (100 mg / kg bw) experimental groups (n=6). For biochemical assays, lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC) and lipofuscin (LIF) and antioxidant levels ie., superoxide dismutase, (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were investigated in liver, kidney and heart followed by lipid profile and liver and kidney function test. Oxidative stress markers (LPO, LIF and PC) in liver, kidney and heart different organs were significantly increased while the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) in the same organs were significantly depleted. The DHA treated old rats significantly reduces the oxidative stress markers when compared with their respective control. Cellular changes in old control rats correlated with the deteriorated liver and kidney function test and lipid profiles. Our results suggest that increment of the rate of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and lipofucinogenesis are well correlated with the decline in the antioxidant status of the liver, kidney and heart. The increased lipofuscin, formed consequent to mitochondrial residues remaining after lysosomal degradation, also exhibit regional heterogeneity and linear increment with age, while DHA exhibited as an antioxidant and anti-aging properties