EFFECTS OF AGE AND TURPENTINE-INDUCED INFLAMMATION ON THE ACTIVITY OF CERULOPLASMIN FROM BLOOD OF CFY RATS

The activity of ceruloplasmin (CP) increased 3-fold in rat blood between 1 week and 20 months of age, but the difference in CP activity of adult and old rats was only 14%, which still is statistically significant (p < 0.01). The increase in NaCl and KCl concentrations in vitro resulted in the same exponential decrease in activities of CP from both young and old animals. Turpentine-induced inflammation caused an increase in blood CP levels in both young (52%) and old (25%) animals compared to age-matched controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). These results indicate that the antioxidant activity of CP is maintained as a function of age in rat blood, which is beneficial for preventing the increase in lipid peroxidation.