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stress [17, 18, 19]. Tayman et al. [20] reported that IMA levels increased
in periodontal diseases and IMA levels decreased in healed cases.
In this study, IMA levels in cats with periodontal disease increased
statistically signicantly (P<0.001) compared to recovered cats. This
increase in IMA levels can be interpreted as due to inammation and
the production of reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) that cause cellular
damage in tissues.
Free radicals constantly produced in the cell are destroyed by
antioxidant defense systems produced during normal metabolism in
the body [21]. Antioxidants prevent or delay cell damage by scavenging
free radicals in the cell [21]. Enzyme systems in cells are effective
in the defense system against free radicals in living organisms. SOD
(Superoxide dismutase) and CAT (Catalase) are important enzymatic
antioxidants that prevent the accumulation of free radicals and the
onset of lipid peroxidation in the organism [22].
The rst defense process in the organism against free radicals
occurs with the SOD enzyme and protects the organism from the
harmful effects of oxidants [14]. Shang et al. [23] reported that the
activity of various enzymatic antioxidants such as SOD will decrease
in periodontal diseases. In this study, serum SOD levels were found
to be decreased in cats with periodontal disease.
In this study, serum SOD levels were signicantly (P<0.001) increased
in cats recovered after treatment compared to cats with periodontal
disease before treatment, and this increase in SOD levels can be
interpreted as an increase in SOD levels to compensate for the harmful
effects of excessive free radicals that cause cellular damage in tissues.
Catalase is an enzymatic antioxidant that plays an important role
in the oxidative defense of tissues by catalyzing the reduction of
hydrogen and lipid peroxides in living organisms [24]. Changes in CAT
enzyme activity are considered as an indicator of oxidative stress [25,
26]. Almerich–Silla et al. [27] reported that the activity of enzymatic
antioxidants such as CAT decreased in their study on periodontal
disease. In this study, serum CAT levels were found to be decreased
in cats with periodontal disease.
In this study, a statistically signicant (P<0.001) increase in serum
CAT levels was detected in cats that recovered after treatment
compared to cats with periodontal disease. This increase in serum
CAT levels is thought to be an excessive use of CAT activity as an
antioxidant to reduce the effects of free radicals that increase due
to inammation in periodontal disease.
Glutathione (GSH) is the most important non–enzymatic soluble
antioxidant. GSH is important in protecting the body against oxidative
stress by reducing the toxicity of free radicals in the organism [10, 14,
28] and GSH levels decrease during oxidative stress [28]. Fentoglu et
al. [29] found that GSH levels were lower in patients with Gingivitis and
Periodontitis compared to healthy control group. In this study, serum
GSH levels were signicantly (P<0.001) increased in cats recovered
after treatment compared to cats with periodontal disease before
treatment. This increase in GSH levels can be interpreted as increased
GSH consumption to protect against severe tissue destruction as a
result of increased production of oxidants.
CONCLUSIONS
The results show that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation develop
in cats with periodontal disease due to increased free radicals. In
addition, it was thought that MDA, IMA, SOD, CAT and GSH activities
may be reliable parameters to determine oxidative stress in cats
with periodontal disease.
As a result, it was concluded that oxidative damage occurs in cats with
periodontal disease and as a result, additional antioxidant administration
to sick cats may contribute to the improvement of the disease.
Ethical statement
This study was approved by the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Animal
Experiments Local Ethics Board.
Conict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conict of interest. Statement
of Animal Rights all applicable international, national, and/or
institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
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