Gatta Claudia, Iorio Eugenio Luigi, Genovese Carla, Biancani Barbara, Mores Alessandro, La Monaca Daniele, Caterino Chiara, Avallone Luigi, Sanchez-Contreras Guillermo J, De Vivo Immaculata, Ciani Francesca, Tafuri Simona
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.
Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Súde, Rua Ceará - Umuarama, Uberlândia 38402-018, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Apr 25;15(9):1215. doi: 10.3390/ani15091215.
Oxidative stress (OS) occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's antioxidant defenses, causing damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA. In marine mammals, physiological adaptation to aquatic life conditions, such as prolonged and repeated dives resulting in cycles of hypoxia followed by reperfusion, is associated with increased production of ROS. This study examines the relationship between oxidative stress, muscular stress, and metabolic damage in the blood serum of eleven captive bottlenose dolphins (), six males and five females. This relationship is investigated using oxidative stress markers (d-ROMs, OXY, and Oxidative Stress index, OSi) and biochemical parameter measurements, including glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Pearson's sex correlation was performed, and males exhibited significantly higher pro-oxidant levels than females, suggesting a potential protective role of female hormones. Also, a positive correlation between pro-oxidants and antioxidants has been observed in relation to age, as older dolphins produced more ROS but also exhibited higher antioxidant capacity, likely to compensate for oxidative damage. Results show no significant correlation between biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers. However, a moderately positive correlation between LDH and antioxidant (OXY) capacity was observed (r = 0.458), suggesting a possible association between tissue turnover and antioxidant defenses. The results indicate that the biochemical markers analyzed are not strong predictors of oxidative stress in bottlenose dolphins. However, the correlation between LDH and antioxidant capacity suggests that tissue turnover may affect antioxidant defenses. This is a preliminary study, and further research is needed to clarify these relationships in order to better understand physiological adaptations in dolphins and their implications for management, health, and welfare.
当活性氧（ROS）的产生与身体的抗氧化防御之间失衡时，就会发生氧化应激（OS），从而对脂质、蛋白质和DNA造成损害。在海洋哺乳动物中，对水生生活条件的生理适应，例如长时间反复潜水导致缺氧再灌注循环，与ROS产生增加有关。本研究调查了11只圈养宽吻海豚（6只雄性和5只雌性）血清中氧化应激、肌肉应激和代谢损伤之间的关系。使用氧化应激标志物（d-ROMs、OXY和氧化应激指数，OSi）以及生化参数测量，包括葡萄糖（GLU）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、肌酸激酶（CK）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）来研究这种关系。进行了Pearson性别相关性分析，结果显示雄性的促氧化剂水平显著高于雌性，这表明女性激素可能具有潜在的保护作用。此外，还观察到促氧化剂与抗氧化剂之间与年龄呈正相关，因为年龄较大的海豚产生更多的ROS，但也表现出更高的抗氧化能力，这可能是为了补偿氧化损伤。结果表明生化参数与氧化应激标志物之间没有显著相关性。然而，观察到LDH与抗氧化剂（OXY）能力之间存在中度正相关（r = 0.458），这表明组织更新与抗氧化防御之间可能存在关联。结果表明，所分析的生化标志物并非宽吻海豚氧化应激的有力预测指标。然而，LDH与抗氧化能力之间的相关性表明组织更新可能会影响抗氧化防御。这是一项初步研究，需要进一步研究来阐明这些关系，以便更好地了解海豚的生理适应及其对管理、健康和福利的影响。
