Background: Increased systemic oxidative stress is considered as an important risk factor for prostate cancer occurrence; however, the relationship between impaired redox homeostasis of prostate tissue and aging remains unclear.
Objective: In our study, we hypothesized that age-related deterioration of redox homeostasis in prostate tissue may be considered as a predisposing factor for prostate cancer occurrence.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups as young control (5 months) and naturally aged (24 months). We investigated the levels of oxidant and antioxidant parameters in prostate tissue.
Results: Advanced oxidation protein products, protein carbonyl, non-protein thiol and lipid hydroperoxides levels of aged rats were significantly higher than in the young control rats (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). Additionally, antioxidant activity of Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase in elderly group was significantly lower than young controls (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: We suggest that increased non-protein thiol levels found in aged rats may prevent further dissemination of oxidative protein damage. We also propose that the increased levels of oxidative protein damage markers and decreased Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity in aged prostate may be considered as a predisposing factor for prostate cancer. Further studies are warranted to clarify all these oxidative changes as initiation factors for prostate cancer in the association of aging with prostate cancer.
Keywords: Aging; antioxidant capacity; lipid peroxidation; prostate; protein oxidation.