Abstract
The effects of oxygen exposure on pulmonary and blood non-enzymic antioxidant concentrations was evaluated in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). Budgerigars were exposed to acute (3 h), repeated acute (3 exposures each of 3 h) or chronic (72 h) normobaric hyperoxic environments and the pulmonary and plasma concentrations of selected non-enzymic antioxidants, namely glutathione, uric acid, α- and γ-tocopherol and carotenoids were assayed. With increasing duration of oxygen exposure, the ratio of oxidised to reduced glutathione was significantly increased, while the concentrations of uric acid, α- and γ-tocopherol and carotenoids were significantly reduced, especially following chronic oxygen exposure. Following acute and repeated acute exposure, alteration in glutathione concentrations and reduction in α-tocopherol concentrations indicated oxygen stress. Following chronic exposure, depletion of non-enzymic antioxidants indicated exhaustion of these protective mechanisms and progression from oxygen stress to oxygen toxicity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 181-187 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - C Toxicology and Pharmacology |
| Volume | 128 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 May 2001 |