PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GLUTATHIONE (GSH) OVER GLUTATHIONE MONOETHYL-ESTER (GSH-E) ON COLD PRESERVATION OF ISOLATED RAT-LIVER CELLS

Hepatocyte suspensions provide a rapid method to determine how hypothe rmic storage affects liver cell metabolism and viability. We investiga ted whether reduced Glutathione (GSH) inclusion into a modified Univer sity of Wisconsin (UW) solution, has a protective effect over Glutathi one derivatives, such as Glutathione-monoethylester (GSH-E), when susp ensions of hepatocytes are cold stored for several days. Isolated rat liver cells were cold preserved 96 h in UW, UW plus 3 mM GSM and UW pl us 3 mM GSH-E. During the cold storage, not significant changes in cel l viability were observed, but the total Glutathione content was highe r in systems with extracellular GSH over those with GSH-E or without. After cold storage, the liver cells were gently resuspended in Krebs-H enseleit-1% Albumin and used for 120 min of normothermic (37 degrees C ) incubation. We evaluate the functional response of the cells measuri ng the exclusion of Trypan Blue (TEE). This response was clearly diffe rent in preserved cells in presence of GSH. These results indicate a p rotective role of extracellular Glutathione, due to an accumulation of it, rather than the derivative, for hepatic cell during the cold stor age in UW solutions. Acid also, it is possible to extend experiments w ith hepatocytes from a single cell isolation over 4 or more consecutiv e days