ALTERATIONS IN THE GLUTATHIONE CONTENT OF MITOCHONDRIA FOLLOWING SHORT-TERM FOREBRAIN ISCHEMIA IN RATS

Total glutathione was measured in mitochondria isolated following 30 m in of ischemia and recirculation periods up to 24 h. Mitochondria prep ared from the dorsolateral striatum, a region containing many neurons susceptible to short ischemic periods; were compared with those from t he paramedian cortex, an ischemia-resistant region. Parallel increases in glutathione content (to approximately 150% of pre-ischemic values) were seen in both regions during the first few hours of recirculation . By 24 h of recirculation, there was a decrease below pre-ischemic va lues in preparations from the dorsolateral striatum but not the parame dian cortex. The early increases in mitochondrial glutathione were not associated with comparable increases in total tissue glutathione. A s horter (10 min) ischemic period also produced an early increase in mit ochondrial glutathione but this was reversed more rapidly to preischem ic values. The observed changes indicate post-ischemic modifications o f cellular oxidative defences in the two brain regions studied.