EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX HORMONES ON SERUM LEVELS OF LIPOCALIN-2 IN FEMALE ALBINO RATS

Background:-Lipocalin 2 has been implicated in diversified functions such as apoptosis, iron transport, inflammation, cell survival and innate immunity. Lipocalin 2 expression is affected by fat depot but the effect of age and sex hormones on the circulating lipocalin 2 levels in female rats is still unknown. Aim:- To explore the effect of age and hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA) on Lipocalin 2 levels in albino rats. Material and Methods:- The study was done on 90 female albino rats divided into 2 main equal groups: Group I, it was further subdivided into 3equal subgroups: Group I A:" pre-pubertal age". Group I B: "young Adult" (3 months old). Group I C:" Old age group" Group II (Ovariectomized "OVX"), it was further subdivided into 3equal subgroups: Group II A: Shame operated group, group II B: OVX group and group II C OVX with hormonal replacement group. Results:- In intact group (group I), lipocalin 2 levels in young adult group were significantly higher than that of pre-pubertal and old age groups. And old age group showed non-significant change in relation to the pre-pubertal group. In OVX group (group II) , lipocalin 2 levels in OVX group were significantly lower than that of young adult and shame operated groups and in the OVX group with hormonal replacement. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, estrogen is the major factor linked to the changes in lipocalin 2 levels. Conclusion:- In female rats age and estrogen hormone are the apparent regulatory factors of the lipocalin 2 levels