HSP70 induction in the brain following ethanol administration in the rat: Regulation by glutathione redox state

Changes in glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels and/or redox status have been suggested to mediate the induction of heat shock pr oteins (HSPs) that follows exposure to oxidizing agents such as ethanol, He re we report the effects of ethanol administration to rats at intracellular levels of GSH, GSSG, HSP70, and protein carbonyls in brain and liver. Foll owing 7 days of ethanol administration, there was a significant decrease in GSH, a significant induction of HSP70, and a significant increase in prote in carbonyls in all brain regions studied and in liver, In cortex, striatum , and hippocampus there was a significant correlation between (a) the decre ase in GSH, (b) the increase in GSSG, and (c) the decrease in GSH/GSSG rati o and HSP70 levels induced in response to ethanol, These data support the h ypothesis that a redox mechanism may be involved in the heat-shock signal p athway responsible for HSP70 induction in the brain. (C) 2000 Academic Pres s.