Effect of sulfur dioxide inhalation on the activities of glutathione peroxidase in nine organs of mice

In order to study oxidation damage of SO_(2) and mechanism of its toxicological role in mammals.After exposure to SO_(2) at different concentrations,the activities of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in nine-organs(liver,lung,kidney,heart,spleen,brain,stomach,small intestine and testicle0from mice were investigated.For male mice,the increases of GSH-Px activities were caused by SO_(2) at low concentration(22+-2mg/M_(3) in lungs(significant);while the decrease of GSH-Px activities were caused by low SO_(2) exposure in heart(significant) and in other organs(not significant).For female mice,SO_(2) at 22+-2mg.M_(3) caused increase of GSH-Px activities in all organs tested,but only the increase of GSH-Px activities in lungs and brains were statistically significant.SO_(2) at higher concentration(64+-3mg/M_(3) caused decrease of GSH-Px activities in all organs tested,but only the increase of GSH-POX activities in lungs and brains were statistically significant.SO_(2) at higher concentration(64+-3mg/M_(3)) caused decrease of GSH-Px activities in all organs tested in mice of both sexes,and the decrease of GSH-Px activities in liver,lung,kidney,heart,brain,stomach,intestine and testicle in male mice were statistically significant.SO_(2) might cause decrease of GSH-Px activities in various organs of mice in a dose-dependent manner.The decrease in activities of the antioxidant enzyme might predispose the organism to increase free radical dammage,and to reduce protection against lipid peroxidation.