ENDOTOXIN CAUSES EARLY CHANGES IN GLUTATHIONE CONCENTRATIONS IN RABBIT PLASMA AND LIVER

The effects of endotoxin on glutathione concentrations in rabbit plasm a and liver were investigated. Lipopolysaccharide (2 mg/kg) from Esche richia coli was administered intravenously to seven male Japanese rabb its. In the liver, the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) sta rted to decrease, and those of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) started to increase 1 hr after the endotoxin administration, resulting in a progr essive decline in the hepatic GSH/GSSG ratio. In the arterial plasma, the concentrations of both GSH and GSSG started to increase 1 hr after the endotoxin administration. Because the increase in the concentrati ons of GSSG was greater than that in the concentrations of GSH, the GS H/GSSG ratio in the plasma decreased as did that in the liver. These c hanges in glutathione concentrations occurred simultaneously with the increase in serum osmolality, but earlier than the decrease in the art erial ketone body ratio, both of which are thought to be useful marker s for liver damage. It was concluded that endotoxin induced an increas e in the plasma concentrations of GSH as well as GSSG, and that the ch anges in plasma glutathione status might be useful markers of endotoxi n-induced damage in organs, including the liver. (C) 1994 Academic Pre ss, Inc.