EFFECT OF TEMPOL ON REDOX HOMEOSTASIS AND STRESS TOLERANCE IN MIMETICALLY AGED DROSOPHILA

We aimed to test our hypothesis that scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) with tempol, a membrane permeable antioxidant, affects the type and magnitude of oxidative damage and stress tolerance through mimetic aging process in Drosophila. Drosophila colonies were randomly divided into three groups: (1) no d‐galactose, no tempol; (2) d‐galactose without tempol; (3) d‐galactose, but with tempol. Mimetic aging was induced by d‐galactose administration. The tempol‐administered flies received tempol at the concentration of 0.2% in addition to d‐galactose. Thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) concentrations, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn‐SOD), sialic acid (SA) were determined. Additionally, stress tolerances were tested. Mimetically aged group without tempol led to a significant decrease in tolerance to heat, cold, and starvation (P < 0.05), but tempol was used for these parameters. The Cu,Zn‐SOD activity and SA concentrations were lower in both mimetically aged and tempol‐administered Drosophila groups compared to control (P < 0.05), whereas there were no significantly difference between mimetically aged and tempol‐administered groups. Mimetically aged group without tempol led to a significant increase in tissue TBARS and AOPPs concentrations (P < 0.05). Coadministration of tempol could prevent these alterations. Scavenging ROS using tempol also restores redox homeostasis in mimetically aged group. Tempol partly restores age‐related oxidative injury and increases stress tolerance.