GENTAMICIN AND CYCLOSPORINE INCREASE TOTAL SOLUBLE THIOLS IN THE PLASMA AND LYMPHOCYTES OF RATS AND PERTURB ERYTHROCYTE FRAGILITY

Total soluble thiols (TST) were analysed in the peripheral blood lymph ocytes and sera of rats treated with the antibiotics gentamycin, cefaz olin and chloramphenicol, as well as the immunosuppressive drug cyclos porine. TST levels were significantly higher in the lymphocytes and se ra of rats treated with gentamycin or cyclosporine as compared with a control group. Erythrocyte fragility increased significantly by variab le degrees following all drug treatments. It is suggested that the mec hanism behind the raised TST levels in the lymphocytes and plasma of r ats treated with gentamycin or cyclosporine might be centred on an imb alance between hydrogen peroxide producing and scavenging systems.