Genetics, Vol. 161, 1763-1769, August 2002, Copyright © 2002
Antioxidant Gene Expression in Active and Sedentary House Mice (Mus domesticus) Selected for High Voluntary Wheel-Running Behavior
Anne M. Bronikowskia,b,
Theodore J. Morganc,
Theodore Garland, Jr.d, and
Patrick A. Carterc
a Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706,
b Department of Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011,
c School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164
d Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521
Corresponding author:
Anne M. Bronikowski, 339 Science 2, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011., abroniko{at}iastate.edu (E-mail)
Communicating editor: M. NOOR
We present liver mRNA levels of the two antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD2) in four treatment groups of house mice assayed by RNase protection at 20 months of age. These groups were mice from four replicate selection and four replicate control lines from the sixteenth generation of selective breeding for high voluntary wheel running, housed with or without running wheels from age 3 weeks through 20 months. Exercising control females had induced CAT expression; SOD2 exhibited a similar pattern in females from two of the four control lines. Exercising male mice had induced CAT expression, but not SOD2 expression, irrespective of genetic background. We discuss these results with respect to both evolutionary (genetic) and training (exercise-induced) adaptations and explore predictions of these results in relation to the oxidative-damage theory of senescence.
