Measurement of intracellular generation of hydrogen peroxide by rat glomeruli in vitro

Abstract

Sequential reduction of oxygen along the univalent pathway leads to the generation of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and water [1, 2]. These partially reduced oxygen intermediates have been implicated as important mediators in various models of ischemic, toxic and immune-mediated tissue injury including glomerular injury [3]. Reactive oxygen metabolites have been shown to affect several biological processes potentially important in glomerular diseases, and their role in both inflammatory as well as non-inflammatory glomerular diseases has recently been demonstrated [3]. Evidence for the importance of reactive oxygen metabolites in experimental models of glomerular disease is based largely on the protective effects of scavengers of reactive oxygen metabolites.