Antioxidant effect of diphenyl diselenide on oxidative stress caused by acute physical exercise in skeletal muscle and lungs of mice.

This study was designed to examine if diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2), an organoselenium compound, attenuates oxidative stress caused by acute physical exercise in skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. Swiss mice were pre-treated with (PhSe)(2) (5 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) for 7 days. At the 7th day, the animals were submitted to acute physical exercise which consisted of continuous swimming for 20 min. The animals were euthanized 1 and 24 h after the exercise test. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), non-protein thiols (NPSH) and ascorbic acid and the activity of catalase (CAT) were measured in the lungs and skeletal muscle of mice. Glycogen content was determined in the skeletal muscle of mice. Parameters in plasma (urea and creatinine) were determined. The results demonstrated an increase in TBARS levels induced by acute physical exercise in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. Animals submitted to exercise showed an increase in non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses (NPSH and ascorbic acid) in the skeletal muscle. In lungs of mice, activity of CAT was increased. (PhSe)(2) protected against the increase in TBARS levels and ameliorated antioxidant defenses in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice submitted to physical exercise. These results indicate that acute physical exercise caused a tissue-specific oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. (PhSe)(2) protected against oxidative damage induced by acute physical exercise in mice.