Breath ethane as a marker of reactive oxygen species during manipulation of diet and oxygen tension in rats

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 1999-02, Vol.86 (2), p.617-622
• Main Authors: Risby, Terence H, Jiang, Long, Stoll, Sigfried, Ingram, Donald, Spangler, Edward, Heim, Jane, Cutler, Richard, Roth, George S, Rifkind, Joseph M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Aging - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Blood gas. Hemoglobin. Myoglobin. Hemotissulary gas exchange. Acid-base balance; Carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Chromatography, Gas; Diet; Ethane - analysis; Ethane - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Oxidation; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Rodents; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.2.617

1  Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21205; and 2  Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Breath ethane, O 2 consumption, and CO 2 production were analyzed in 24-mo-old female Fischer 344 rats that had been fed continuously ad libitum (AL) or restricted 30% of AL level (DR) diets since 6 wk of age. Rats were placed in a glass chamber that was first flushed with air, then with a gas mixture containing 12% O 2 . After equilibration, a sample of the outflow was collected in gas sampling bags for subsequent analyses of ethane and CO 2 . The O 2 and CO 2 levels were also directly monitored in the outflow of the chamber. O 2 consumption and CO 2 production increased for DR rats. Hypoxia decreased O 2 consumption and CO 2 production for the AL-fed and DR rats. These changes reflect changes in metabolic rate due to diet and P O 2 . A significant decrease in ethane generation was found in DR rats compared with AL-fed rats. Under normoxic conditions, breath ethane decreased from 2.20 to 1.61 pmol ethane/ml CO 2 . During hypoxia the levels of ethane generation increased, resulting in a DR-associated decrease in ethane from 2.60 to 1.90   pmol ethane/ml CO 2 . These results support the hypothesis that DR reduces the level of oxidative stress. dietary restriction; aging; hypoxia; breath analysis