English

Abstract

Intraperitoneal injection of rats with diethyldithiocarbamate (1.2 g/kg body weight) led to a maximum diminution of glutathione reductase at 12 hr by 40% and 56% in liver and red blood cells respectively, with a gradual return to the normal level at 48 hr after administration. Significant inhibition of reduced glutathione was also observed, which returned to normal at 48 hr after administration. However, maximum decline in its content was at 12 hr by 71% and 37% in liver and red blood cells respectively. A similar pattern was exhibited with respect to liver and serum ceruloplasmin in the diethyldithiocarbamate injected rats. It is possible that oxidant stress is developed in the rats by the administration of diethyldithiocarbamate with concomitant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the other antioxidants such as reduced glutathione and ceruloplasmin. INTRODUCTION: Intraperitoneal injection of rats with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a powerful copper chelator, causes decline in superoxide dismutase in various tissues of experimental animals. 1,2 DDC administration to rats significantly decreased the cellular activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase. 3 There are several metabolic processes which generate superoxide anion radical (O 2 -) in the respiring cells. 4 If these radicals are not effectively removed, they are toxic to the cells due to their ability to promote lipid peroxidation 4,5 and to provoke the denaturation of certain enzymes.6 Superoxide dismutase, which catalyses the dismutation of O 2 - is considered to be the essential enzyme in the defense against the toxic effects of O 2 - . Maintenance of intracellular level of this enzyme is necessary to prevent free radical toxicity. In view of these reports, it was felt necessary to study the effect of DDC administration on the levels of glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione in liver and erythrocytes and serum ceruloplasmin of rats. This study is aimed at establishing the mutually supportive role of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, ceruloplasmin and antioxidant such as reduced glutathione. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CHEMICALS: Bovine serum albumin (fraction V) and 5, 5 - dithiobis 2- nitrobenzoic acid were purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis MO,