Sex-dependent differences in aged rat brain mitochondrial function and oxidative stress

Females show lower incidences of several neurodegenerative diseases related to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction than males. In addition, female rats show more differentiated mitochondria than males in several tissues. The aim of this work was to investigate the existence of sex-dependent differences in brain mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative balance in aged rats. Results showed that aged female rat brain had a lower mitochondria content than aged male brain but with a greater differentiation degree given the higher mitochondrial protein content and mitochondrial complex activities in females. Female rat brain also showed a better oxidative balance than that of males, reflected by the fact that higher mitochondrial respiratory chain function is accompanied by a similar ROS production and greater antioxidant enzyme activities, which could be responsible for the lesser oxidative damage observed in proteins and lipids in this sex. Interestingly, levels of UCP4 and UCP5--proteins related to a decrease in ROS production--were also higher in females. In conclusion, aged female rat brain had more differentiated mitochondria than male brain and showed a better control of oxidative stress balance, which could be due, in part, to the neuroprotective effect of UCPs.