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Short-term creatine supplementation decreases reactive oxygen species content with no changes in expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes in skeletal muscle

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An Erratum to this article was published on 30 September 2012

Abstract

The effect of short-term creatine (Cr) supplementation upon content of skeletal muscle-derived-reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated. Wistar rats were supplemented with Cr (5 g/kg BW) or vehicle, by gavage, for 6 days. Soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were removed and incubated for evaluation of ROS content using Amplex-UltraRed reagent. The analysis of expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase 1 and 2, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) were performed. Direct scavenger action of Cr on superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide was also investigated. Short-term Cr supplementation attenuated ROS content in both soleus and EDL muscles (by 41 and 33.7%, respectively). Cr supplementation did not change expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Basal TBARS content was not altered by Cr supplementation. In cell-free experiments, Cr showed a scavenger effect on superoxide radical in concentrations of 20 and 40 mM, but not on hydrogen peroxide. These results indicate that Cr supplementation decreases ROS content in skeletal muscle possibly due to a direct action of Cr molecule on superoxide radical.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to Leonice Lourenço Poyares for technical support. L.G-F., F.G-R., K.F.V. and R.T.N. are recipients of fellowships from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). C.H.J.P. is recipient of fellowship from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). M.T.N. and R.C. are recipients of fellowships from Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, ICB-I, Cidade Universitária, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira, Carlos Hermano J. Pinheiro, Frederico Gerlinger-Romero, Kaio F. Vitzel, Renato T. Nachbar, Rui Curi & Maria Tereza Nunes

  2. Exercise Metabolism Research Group, Department of Sports, Center of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira

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  1. Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira
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  2. Carlos Hermano J. Pinheiro
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  3. Frederico Gerlinger-Romero
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  4. Kaio F. Vitzel
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  5. Renato T. Nachbar
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  6. Rui Curi
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  7. Maria Tereza Nunes
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Correspondence to Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira.

Additional information

Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

L. Guimarães-Ferreira and C.H.J. Pinheiro contributed equally to this work.

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Guimarães-Ferreira, L., Pinheiro, C.H.J., Gerlinger-Romero, F. et al. Short-term creatine supplementation decreases reactive oxygen species content with no changes in expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes in skeletal muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 3905–3911 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2378-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2378-9

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