Changes of the reduced glutathione concentration and the activity of glutathione reductase in some tissues of rats γ-irradiated after the administration of cystamine

The concentration changes of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the changes in the activity of glutathione reductase were investigated in liver, kidney and spleen of rats after whole-body 6.5 Gy 60Co γ-irradiation with and without cystamine (50 mg/kg) treatment prior to irradiation. The irradiation caused in general, a decrease of the GSH tissue concentration during the first hour after exposure. The results presented here and some previous experiments demonstrate that the post-irradiation GSH decrease is due not only to oxidation of the sulfhydryl group of GSH, but also to the diminished activity of glutathione reductase. Cystamine administered before gamma irradiation enhanced the inhibitory effect of the radiation on the glutathione reductase activity. The administration of cystamine before the irradiation had a favourable effect on the GSH concentration at the 30 minute interval. Thus, the radiation-induced decrease was eliminated, while the protective effect was weak only at the 60th minute. (author)