PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF GAMMA-GLUTAMYLCYSTEINYLETHYL ESTER ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATIC TRIGLYCERIDE ACCUMULATION IN MICE

The effect of gamma-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester (gamma-GCE), which is a precursor of reduced glutathione (GSH), on carbon tetrachloride (CC l4)-induced hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation in mice was investi gated in comparison with that of GSH. Administration of gamma-GCE (160 mu mol/kg), but not GSH (160 mu mol/kg), to mice at 3 h after CCl4 in jection (1 ml/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated an increase in hepati c TG concentration at 6, 12, and 24 h after the CCl4 injection. A decr ease in hepatic GSH concentration after the CCl4 injection was signifi cantly diminished by the gamma-GCE administration, but not by the GSH administration. The correlation coefficient between hepatic TG concent ration and hepatic GSH concentration was -0.627 (P < 0.001) when the r esults of all mice were grouped together. These results indicate that gamma-GCE can attenuate CCl4-induced hepatic TG accumulation in mice t hrough the maintenance of hepatic GSH level. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.