GLUTATHIONE DEPLETION INDUCES GLYCOGENOLYSIS DEPENDENT ASCORBATE SYNTHESIS IN ISOLATED MURINE HEPATOCYTES

The relationship between glutathione deficiency, glycogen metabolism a nd ascorbate synthesis was investigated in isolated murine hepatocytes . Glutathione deficiency caused by various agents increased ascorbate synthesis with a stimulation of glycogen breakdown. Increased ascorbat e synthesis from UDP-glucose or gulonolactone could not be further aff ected by glutathione depletion. Fructose prevented the stimulated glyc ogenolysis and ascorbate synthesis caused by glutathione consumption, Reduction of oxidised glutathione by dithiothreitol decreased the elev ated glycogenolysis and ascorbate synthesis in diamide or menadione tr eated hepatocytes. Our results suggest that a change in GSH/GSSG ratio seems to be a sufficient precondition of altering glycogenolysis and a consequent ascorbate synthesis.