AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 258, Issue 4 499-G505, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Glutathione disulfide as index of oxidant stress in rat liver during hypoxia

H. Jaeschke
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.

Formation of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) was used as an index of reactive oxygen generation in the isolated perfused liver of male Fischer rats during normoxia and hypoxia. Low oxygen tension may affect GSSG formation, rereduction, and transport mechanisms. The effect of short-term hypoxia (15 min) on the biliary and sinusoidal transport of GSSG was tested with the glutathione S-conjugates of sulfobromophthalein and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Hypoxia inhibited S-conjugate excretion through both pathways by 15-20%. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (75 microM tBHP) or diquat (200 microM) in the perfusate increased hepatic GSSG release by 430 and 1,550%, respectively, and increased the tissue GSSG content by 47 and 124%, respectively, under normoxia. Hypoxia reduced the stimulated GSSG export by 38 (tBHP) and 83% (diquat) and also caused an additional increase of the tissue GSSG content by 112% during tBHP infusion but caused a reduction by 32% during diquat infusion. Inhibition of the biliary export of GSSG and S-conjugates is mainly compensated by the sinusoidal efflux. Therefore, it is concluded that hypoxia reduces GSSG formation predominantly through suppression of reactive oxygen formation with only marginal effects on the biliary and sinusoidal excretion mechanism. Thus hepatic GSSG formation is a sensitive indicator of oxidant stress during normoxia and hypoxia. Because single parameters may vary considerably, simultaneous monitoring of GSSG in bile, perfusate, and tissue is essential for qualitative and quantitative estimation of reactive oxygen formation.

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