Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are normally produced in skeletal muscle. However, an imbalance in their regulatory
systems can lead to their accumulation and ultimately to oxidative stress, which is one of the causes of
the ageing process. Companion dogs share the same environment and lifestyle as humans, making them an
excellent comparative model for the study of ageing, as well as they constitute a growing market for bioactive
molecules that improve the quality of life of pets. The anti-ageing properties of oleuropein aglycone (OLE), a
bioactive compound from olive leaves known for its antioxidant properties, were investigated in Myok9 canine
muscle cell model. After incubation with OLE, senescence was induced in the canine cellular model by hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2). Analyses were performed on cells after seven days of differentiation. The oxidative stress
induced by H2O2 treatment on differentiated canine muscle cells led to a significant increase in ROS formation,
which was reduced by OLE pretreatment alone or in combination with H2O2 by about 34% and 32%, respectively.
Cells treated with H2O2 showed a 48% increase the area of senescent cells stained by SA-β-gal, while OLE
significantly reduced the coloured area by 52%. OLE, alone or in combination with H2O2, showed a significant
antioxidant activity, possibly through autophagy activation, as indicated by the expression of autophagic
markers.
