INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN-E TREATMENT ON GLUTATHIONE SYSTEM AFTER RENAL ISCHEMIA IN IMMATURE-RATS AND ADULT-RATS

Survival rates were not significantly different 5 days after 20-min un ilateral ischemia followed by contralateral nephrectomy: 58 % in 20-da y-old vs. 77 % in 55-day-old rats. This experimental approach was used to characterize age dependent differences in the susceptibility of th e glutathione system to ischemia and protective effects of treatment w ith vitamin E (10 mg/100 g b.wt, once daily s.c.) on the outcome after renal ischemia. The degree of postischemic changes (GSH, gamma-GT, TB ARS) was the highest on days 1 and 2 after ischemia; at this time, sur vival rates were similar in young and adult rats. In adult animals, bo th glutathione content and the activity of gamma-GT were significantly reduced after ischemia whereas in immature rats only the glutathione content was distinctly diminished. At the 5th day after ischemia the p arameters were almost normalized in the two age groups. Repeated admin istration of vitamin E improved the survival rate in adult rats up to 100 %; in young animals, lethality was not influenced by vitamin E tre atment. This reflects the beneficial effects of vitamin E on the gluta thione system in adults whereas the vitamin was without effect on the immature rats' glutathione system.