Cerebral hypoperfusion and progesterone treatment alter parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence in male rats

Abstract

Numerous natural compounds, like progesterone (P4), a sex steroid hormone, are highlighted as promising agents for treatment of different disorders including prolonged disturbance of blood flow. However, its action on several oxidative stress markers (pro/antioxidant balance, products of lipid peroxidation and phosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidylcholine intensity ratio) and one of the major components of antioxidant system, superoxide dismutase in rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) following permanent bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries (2VO) is not completely investigated. According to the obtained results, levels of investigated oxidative stress markers and SOD activity were altered in 2VO animals treated with vehicle, while P4 treatment returned them to control values. Overall, presented data indicate that P4 might manifest antioxidative features in PFC of 2VO rats.