Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymatic response to aging in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum

Aging is associated with increased oxidant generation. One mechanism involved in the defense of oxidative products is the family of glutathione transferases (GST). We have analyzed the activity, distribution and expression of GSTP1 and GSTA4 isoenzymes in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of young, adult and aged rats. The total GST activity, measured with the universal substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), increased only with the maturation process; however GSTA4 activity, using the specific substrate 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), did show an age-dependent increase in both brain regions. Cellular location of GSTA4 in astrocytes was not changed except for young cerebral cortex and adult/aged cerebellum that also showed immunoreactivity in layer III pyramidal neurons and Bergman radial glia, respectively. Distribution of GSTP1 was similar among groups and only an increased number of positive oligodendrocytes was found in the Purkinje and granular layer of adult/aged cerebellum. The GSTA4 and GSTP1 expression increased from young to adult/aged brain and GSTA4 even augmented in the aged cerebral cortex. These results suggest a GST isoenzymatic response with aging, but above all with the maturation process.