Ghrelin Improves Antioxidant Defense in Blood and Brain in Normobaric Hypoxia in Adult Male Rats

Hypoxia is one of the important factors in formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that reduces oxidative stress. However, antioxidant effect of ghrelin on blood and brain in normobaric hypoxia condition has not yet been investigated. thirty-two animals were randomly divided into four (n=8) experimental groups: Control (C), ghrelin (Gh), hypoxia (H), hypoxic animals that received ghrelin (H+Gh). Normobaric systemic hypoxia (11% O2) was induced in rats for 48 hours. Effect of ghrelin (80 μg/kg, i.p) on serum TAC and MDA and brain SOD, CAT, GPx and MDA were assessed. Hypoxia significantly (p<0.001) increased both blood and brain MDA Levels. Ghrelin treatment significantly (p<0.001) decreased blood MDA levels both in control and hypoxia, and brain MDA levels in hypoxia conditions. Brain SOD, CAT and GPx variations were not significant in two days of hypoxia. Ghrelin treatment also could not significantly increase activity of SOD, CAT and GPx in brain. Total antioxidant capacity of serum increased in ghrelin treatment both in control and hypoxic conditions, although it was only significant (p<0.01) in control conditions. Our findings showed that administration of ghrelin may be useful in reducing blood and brain oxidative stress in normobaric hypoxia condition.