The Oxidative Stress At Lungs After Menopause And The Antioxidant Effects Of Vitamin D, Fish Oil And Exercise in An Experimental Rat Model

Abstract

Menopause is the permanent cessation of ovarian follicular activity and the menstrual cycle. There is little physiologic and histologic data concerning the possible effects of menopause on respiratory tract and possible beneficial agents for respiratory tract against the effects of menopause. The rat lungs and trachea have been obtainedfrom young and old rats which were treated with either vitamin D (VitD; 1000IU/kg/week),Fish oil (FO; 0.8 mL/kg/week) or exercise (running 45 minutes/3 times/week) for 12 weeks after one week overiectomy (OVX) followup. Oxidative stress markers found increased at OVX and OVX+E groups. However, oxidative stress marker levels were lower at OVX+E group than OVX group. Vitamin D and fish oil also caused decreased oxidative stress at lung tissue compared to OVX group. OVX group had histological changes such as epithelial desquamation, peribronchial smooth muscle hypertrophy, peribronchial lymphoid follicles, Type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia; however, none of them was found at exercise group. Ovariectomy caused respiratory system effects in rats. Menopause cause oxidative stress; however, exercise, vitamin D and fish oil have protective effects against oxidative stress at lungs at different quantities. Ovariectomy group has the greatest damage compared to other groups. Exercise is the best protective modality against the effects of menopause at respiratory system.