Moderate caloric restriction increases diaphragmatic antioxidant enzyme mRNA, but not when combined with lifelong exercise

Diaphragmatic antioxidant enzymes are upregulated following acute and long-term treadmill exercise, but the effect of lifelong voluntary exercise (E) on diaphragmatic antioxidants is unknown. Therefore, 10-week old Fisher 344 rats were assigned to either: (a) sedentary ad libitum (AL) fed (24AL; n = 6); (b) E + 8% caloric restriction (24ECR; n = 9); or (c) sedentary + 8% caloric restriction (24CR; n = 9) groups. Diaphragms were harvested from animals at 24 months of age. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA in addition to catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-ZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mRNA and protein levels were measured. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and citrate synthase (CS) activity were measured to assess antioxidant status and oxidative capacity, respectively. The 24CR group demonstrated increased GPX, HO-1, MnSOD, and CAT mRNA compared to 24AL and 24ECR. Interestingly, the increased mRNA in 24CR animals did not result in elevated protein levels. No group differences in Cu-ZnSOD mRNA, CS activity, or GSH were observed, although GSH was 30% greater in 24CR animals (p = 0.085). In summary, although CR elevated the mRNA of key antioxidant enzymes in the diaphragm, life-long CR alone or in combination with voluntary exercise did not alter diaphragm CS activity, antioxidant protein quantity, or GSH levels.