Objective: To investigate the relationship between the retinal lipid peroxidation (LPO) or antioxidation and age.
Methods: The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and chemical luminescence methods, were used to detect the retinal malondialdehyde (MDA) content produced by LPO and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity which represents the antioxidation ability of retina in 22 rats different ages.
Results: The retinal MDA contents were 0.18 +/- 0.06, 0.16 +/- 0.06, 0.38 +/- 0.11, 0.49 +/- 0.09 nmol/mg protein respectively in 5, 12, 18, 24 months old (F test, P < 0.01); the retinal SOD activities were 0.99 +/- 0.30, 2.48 +/- 0.56, 0.70 +/- 0.35, 0.85 +/- 0.57 U/mg protein respectively in 5, 12, 18, 24 months old rats (F test, P < 0.01).
Conclusions: The retinal MDA content increased and SOD activity decreased with aging. The cumulative effects of the long-term photochemical damage and decreased antioxidation ability in retina might be the causes of the increased retinal LPO.