Intermittent hypoxia has organ-specific effects on oxidative stress

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by upper airway collapse, leading to intermittent hypoxia (IH). It has been postulated that IH-induced oxidative stress may contribute to several chronic diseases associated with obstructive sleep apnea. We hypothesize that IH induces systemic oxidative stress by upregulating NADPH oxidase, a superoxide-generating enzyme. NADPH oxidase is regulated by a cytosolic p47^phox subunit, which becomes phosphorylated during enzyme activation. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to IH with an inspired O₂ fraction nadir of 5% 60 times/h during the 12-h light phase (9 AM-9 PM) for 1 or 4 wk. In the aorta and heart, IH did not affect lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA) level], nitrotyrosine level, or p47^phox expression and phosphorylation. In contrast, in the liver, exposure to IH for 1 wk resulted in a trend to an increase in MDA levels, whereas IH for 4 wk resulted in a 38% increase in MDA levels accompanied by upregulation of p47^phox expression and phosphorylation. Administration of an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin, during IH exposure attenuated IH-induced increases in hepatic MDA. In p47^phox-deficient mice, MDA levels were higher at baseline and, unexpectedly, decreased during IH. In conclusion, oxidative stress levels and pathways under IH conditions are organ and duration specific.