Do active substances of thymus influence the processes of aging? VIII. Cerebral superoxide dismutase activity and malonyl dialdehyde concentration in aging mice treated with embryonal and early fetal thymic calf extracts (ETCE) and mature calf thymic extracts (thymex L and TFX).

Abstract

Cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) concentration were determined in 450 day female BNe strain mice. These animals were previously treated with 45 injections of: 1. embryonal and early fetal thymic calf extracts (ETCE) in single doses of 1.0 mg (group E) and 7.5 mg (group EE) protein per mouse; 2. Thymex L in the same doses (groups T and TT, respectively); 3. TFX in a single dose on 1.0 mg protein per animal. All applied thymic extracts, independently of the kind and dose, caused a fall in brain SOD activity. A statistically significant decrease in MDA concentration was found in the brains of E group mice. A clinical implication of the results has been suggested.