Effects of Deferoxamine on Tissue Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Experimental Head Trauma

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effects of deferoxamine on tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) brain levels after head trauma. Methods: Thirty rabbits were divided equally into three groups: group 1 was the sham-operated group, group 2 suffered head trauma (no treatment was given), and group 3 received deferoxamine 50 mg/kg after the trauma. Head trauma was applied unilaterally. One hour after trauma, brain cortices were resected and SOD and GPx levels were determined. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey-HSD tests were used for analysis. Significance was defined asp < 0.05. Results: Baseline SOD levels are preserved in the traumatized side of the deferoxamine-treated group. Although GPx level of the traumatized side of the deferoxamine-treated group decreased significantly, the decrease was significantly less than the nontreated group. Conclusion: Trauma leads to a decrease in brain tissue SOD and GPx levels, Deferoxamine suppresses this decrease completely in SOD level and partially in GPx level when given after trauma.