Preventive effect of γ-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic triglyceride accumulation in mice

Abstract

The effect of γ-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester ( γ-GCE), which is a precursor of reduced glutathione (GSH), on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation in mice was investigated in comparison with that of GSH. Administration of γ-GCE (160 μmol/kg), but not GSH (160 μmol/kg), to mice at 3 h after CCl 4 injection (1 ml/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated an increase in hepatic TG concentration at 6, 12, and 24 h after the CCl 4 injection. A decrease in hepatic GSH concentration after the CCl 4 injection was significantly diminished by the γ-GCE administration, but not by the GSH administration. The correlation coefficient between hepatic TG concentration and hepatic GSH concentration was −0.627 ( P<0.001) when the results of all mice were grouped together. These results indicate that γ-GCE can attenuate CCl 4-induced hepatic TG accumulation in mice through the maintenance of hepatic GSH level.