GLUTATHIONE DEPLETION AND RABBIT RENAL MEDULLA 6-KETOPGF1-ALPHA AND TXB2 - LEVELS INVIVO AND FOLLOWING HOMOGENATE INCUBATION INVITRO

1. The effect of glutathione (GSH) depletion on rabbit renal medullary homogenate 6-ketoPGF1-alpha and TxB2 synthesizing capability was inve stigated. 2. GSH depletion in vivo with diethyl maleate (DEM) produced higher (P < 0.05) 6-ketoPGF1-alpha and TxB2 renal medullary levels co mpared to controls. Homogenization and incubation lowered (P < 0.05) G SH such that there were no differences in GSH between treatments after 5 min of incubation. By 30 min, GSH was lower (P < 0.05) and 6-ketoPG F1-alpha higher (P < 0.05) in homogenates from controls in comparison to those from DEM-treated rabbits. 3. The results indicate GSH depleti on increased 6-ketoPGF1-alpha levels in rabbit renal medulla in vivo b ut subsequent GSH catabolism prevented assessing the effect of this GS H depletion on prostanoid synthesizing capability.