Extracellular GSH Concentration Research Articles

Development of UPLC-MS/MS methods for quantitation of glutathione, cysteine, 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and application in paraquat poisoning cells

Glutathione (GSH) and cysteine are important antioxidants in maintaining the oxidation-reduction balance. 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) are biological active compounds metabolized from arachidonic acid. To dynamically monitor GSH, cysteine, 14,15-EET, and 15-HETE, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed. The derivative GSH, cysteine, and underivatized 14,15-EET, 15-HETE were determined by electrospray ionization source with multiple reaction monitoring. The developed method was well validated and applied to monitor the extracellular concentration of GSH, cysteine, 14,15-EET, and 15-HETE in paraquat (PQ) poisoning LO2 cells. It was shown that the derivation of GSH and cysteine is complete and specific. There was a good linear relationship among GSH, cysteine, 14,15-EET, and 15-HETE. The relative standard deviations of precision and accuracy were all within 15%. After PQ poisoning, the extracellular concentrations of GSH and cysteine were increased at 72 h. 14,15-EET and 15-HETE started to increase at 24 h, earlier than GSH and cysteine. Irreversible pathological alterations appeared at 48 h. In conclusion, a fast and specific UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of GSH, cysteine, 14,15-EET, and 15-HETE has been developed and validated. PQ induced the increase of 14,15-EET and 15-HETE earlier than that of GSH and cysteine in LO2 cells culture medium.

Glutathione sensitive vesicles prepared from supramolecular amphiphiles.

Glutathione (GSH) sensitive vesicles were prepared by the self-assembly of amphiphilic inclusion complexes. These novel chemically sensitive supramolecular amphiphiles are anticipated to have applications in drug delivery; the nanocarriers can protect the encapsulated cargo and release it via triggered degradation in high concentrations of GSH. Additionally, the sensitivity of the vesicles to GSH indicates that the dynamic covalent disulfide bond at the vesicle surface can be used for post-modification of the nanocarrier via a thiol-disulfide exchange, a strategy that can be exploited to introduce targeting moieties to increase treatment specificity. Supramolecular amphiphiles containing a dynamic covalent disulfide bond were prepared via the host-guest inclusion complexes between alkylated β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) hosts and adamantane terminated polyethylene glycol derivatives. The significant difference between the critical micelle concentrations of the supramolecular amphiphiles and the individual host and guest components confirmed that a unique supramolecular amphiphile was formed. Fluorescence experiments and dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that the supramolecular amphiphiles self-assembled into vesicles of 130 nm diameter which were stable for 8 months. Degradation of the vesicles after incubation with GSH was monitored using DLS and by the release of encapsulated 5,6-carboxyfluorescein (CF), observed by an increase in fluorescence intensity. Degradation of the nanocarrier was faster at intracellular GSH concentrations than at extracellular GSH concentrations.

Anethole Dithiolethione Increases Glutathione in Kidney by Inhibiting γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase: Biochemical Interpretation and Pharmacological Consequences.

Aims Anethole dithiolethione (ADT) is a marketed drug to treat xerostomia. Its mechanism of action is still unknown, but several preclinical studies indicate that it is able to increase intracellular glutathione (GSH) and protect against oxidative stress. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms behind these effects. Results Oral treatment of rats confirmed the GSH enhancing properties of ADT; among the different organs examined in this study, only the kidney showed a significant GSH increase that was already observed at low-dose treatments. The increase in GSH correlated with a decrease in γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) activity of the different tissues. In vitro and ex vivo experiments with tubular renal cells and isolated perfused rat kidney showed that the cellular uptake of intact GSH was correlated with the extracellular concentrations of GSH. Conclusions. The prominent in vivopharmacological effect of ADT was a marked increase of GSH concentration in the kidney and a decrease of some systemic and renal biomarkers of oxidative stress. In particular, by inhibition of γ-GT activity, it decreased the production cysteinylglycine, a thiol that has prooxidant effects as the consequence of its autooxidation. The activity of ADT as GSH enhancer in both the circulation and the kidney was long-lasting. All these characteristics make ADT a promising drug to protect the kidney, and in particular proximal tubule cells, from xenobiotic-induced damage.

GSH Induced Controlled Release of Levofloxacin from a Purpose-Built Prodrug: Luminescence Response for Probing the Drug Release in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Fluoroquinolones are third-generation broad spectrum bactericidal antibiotics and work against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Levofloxacin (L), a fluoroquinolone, is widely used in anti-infective chemotherapy and treatment of urinary tract infection and pneumonia. The main pathogen for urinary tract infections is Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for pneumonia, predominantly a lower respiratory tract infection. Poor permeability of L leads to the use of higher dose of this drug and excess drug in the outer cellular fluid leads to central nervous system (CNS) abnormality. One way to counter this is to improve the lipophilicity of the drug molecule, and accordingly, we have synthesized two new Levofloxacin derivatives, which participated in the spatiotemporal release of drug via disulfide bond cleavage induced by glutathione (GSH). Recent studies with Streptococcus mutants suggest that it is localized in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the normal lower respiratory tract and the effective [GSH] in ELF is ∼430 μM. E. coli typically cause urinary tract infections and the concentration of GSH in porcine bladder epithelium is reported as 0.6 mM for a healthy human. Thus, for the present study we have chosen two important bacteria (Gram + ve and Gram - ve), which are operational in regions having high extracellular GSH concentration. Interestingly, this supports our design of new lipophilic Levofloxacin based prodrugs, which released effective drug on reaction with GSH. Higher lipophilicity favored improved uptake of the prodrugs. Site specific release of the drug (L) could be achieved following a glutathione mediated biochemical transformation process through cleavage of a disulfide bond of these purpose-built prodrugs. Further, appropriate design helped us to demonstrate that it is possible also to control the kinetics of the drug release from respective prodrugs. Associated luminescence enhancement helps in probing the release of the drug from the prodrug in bacteria and helps in elucidating the mechanistic pathway of the transformation. Such an example is scarce in the contemporary literature.

Overexpression of rice glutaredoxins (OsGrxs) significantly reduces arsenite accumulation by maintaining glutathione pool and modulating aquaporins in yeast

Arsenic (As) is an acute poison and class I carcinogen, can cause a serious health risk. Staple crops like rice are the primary source of As contamination in human food. Rice grown on As contaminated areas accumulates higher As in their edible parts. Based on our previous transcriptome data, two rice glutaredoxins (OsGrx_C7 and OsGrx_C2.1) were identified that showed up-regulated expression during As stress. Here, we report OsGrx_C7 and OsGrx_C2.1 from rice involved in the regulation of intracellular arsenite (AsIII). To elucidate the mechanism of OsGrx mediated As tolerance, both OsGrxs were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli (Δars) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strains (Δycf1, Δacr3). The expression of OsGrxs increased As tolerance in E. coli (Δars) mutant strain (up to 4 mM AsV and up to 0.6 mM AsIII). During AsIII exposure, S. cerevisiae (Δacr3) harboring OsGrx_C7 and OsGrx_C2.1 have lower intracellular AsIII accumulation (up to 30.43% and 24.90%, respectively), compared to vector control. Arsenic accumulation in As-sensitive S. cerevisiae mutant (Δycf1) also reduced significantly on exposure to inorganic As. The expression of OsGrxs in yeast maintained intracellular GSH pool and increased extracellular GSH concentration. Purified OsGrxs displays in vitro GSH-disulfide oxidoreductase, glutathione reductase and arsenate reductase activities. Also, both OsGrxs are involved in AsIII extrusion by altering the Fps1 transcripts in yeast and protect the cell by maintaining cellular GSH pool. Thus, our results strongly suggest that OsGrxs play a crucial role in the maintenance of the intracellular GSH pool and redox status of the cell during both AsV and AsIII stress and might be involved in regulating intracellular AsIII levels by modulation of aquaporin expression and functions.

Increased efflux of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) causes glutathione depletion and potentially diminishes antioxidant defense in sickle erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are both an important source and target of reactive oxygen species in sickle cell disease. Levels of glutathione, a major antioxidant, have been shown to be decreased in sickle erythrocytes and the mechanism leading to this deficiency is not known yet. Detoxification of reactive oxygen species involves the oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) into glutathione-disulfide (GSSG) which is actively transported out of erythrocyte. We questioned whether under oxidative conditions, GSSG efflux is increased in sickle erythrocytes. Erythrocytes of 18 homozygous sickle cell patients and 9 race-matched healthy controls were treated with 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone, which induces intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, to stimulate GSSG production. Intra- and extracellular concentrations of GSH and GSSG were measured at baseline and during 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. While comparable at baseline, intracellular and extracellular GSSG concentrations were significantly higher in sickle erythrocytes than in healthy erythrocyte after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation (69.9 ± 3.7 μmol/l vs. 40.6 ± 6.9 μmol/l and 25.8 ± 2.7 μmol/l vs. 13.6 ± 1.7 μmol/l respectively, P < 0.002). In contrast to control erythrocytes, where GSH concentrations remained unchanged (176 ± 8.4 μmol/l vs. 163 ± 13.6 μmol/l, NS), GSH in sickle erythrocytes decreased significantly (from 167 ± 8.8 μmol/l to 111 ± 11.8 μmol/l, P < 0.01) after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. Adding multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 inhibitor (MK571) to erythrocytes blocked GSSG efflux in both sickle and normal erythrocytes. GSSG efflux, mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein-1, is increased in sickle erythrocytes, resulting in net loss of intracellular glutathione and possibly higher susceptibility to oxidative stress.

2-Deoxyribose Deprives Cultured Astrocytes of their Glutathione

High concentrations of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dRib) have been reported to cause oxidative stress and to disturb the glutathione (GSH) metabolism of various cell types. Exposure of astrocyte-rich primary cultures to millimolar concentrations of 2dRib or its stereoisomer 2-deoxy-L-ribose, but not the incubation with ribose, 2-deoxyglucose, glucose, fructose or saccharose, lowered the cellular GSH content in a time and concentration dependent manner. After exposure for 4 h to 30 mM 2dRib the cells contained 2dRib in a concentration of about 24 mM. Under these conditions 2dRib did not compromise cell viability and the ability of the cells to synthesise GSH, nor were the cellular ratio of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to GSH and the extracellular concentrations of GSH or GSSG increased. These data demonstrate that 2dRib deprives viable cultured astrocytes of GSH and suggest that a cellular reaction of GSH with 2dRib or its metabolites is involved in the deprivation of astrocytic GSH.

Tunable Reactivation of Nanoparticle-Inhibited β-Galactosidase by Glutathione at Intracellular Concentrations

Positively charged trimethylammonium-functionalized mixed monolayer protected clusters (MMPCs) of different chain lengths (C(8) and C(11)) have been used to bind beta-galactosidase through complementary electrostatic interactions, resulting in complete enzyme inhibition. This inhibition can be reversed in vitro by intracellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH), the main thiol component of the cell. The restoration of activity depends on the chain length of the monolayer. The activity of enzyme bound to particles with C(8) monolayer was completely restored by intracellular concentrations (1-10 mM) of GSH; however, little or no release was observed at extracellular GSH concentrations. In contrast, no restoration was observed for enzyme bound to the C(11) particles at any of the concentrations studied. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that the GSH-mediated release of enzymes bound to MMPCs can be tuned through the structure of the monolayer, a significant tool for protein and drug delivery applications.

Effect of surfactants on extracellular accumulation of glutathione by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The effects of representative surfactants on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae WSH-J701 and glutathione (GSH) production were studied. The anionic surfactant sodium dedecyl sulfate (SDS) and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) had critical inhibitory concentrations of 0.5 and 0.025 g/l, respectively, to cell growth during cultivation. Above these concentrations, cell growth was greatly inhibited or even ceased. Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij30) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween80) could also affect cell growth only when their concentrations reached much higher levels. Under the critical concentration, SDS and CTAB increased the extracellular GSH concentration by 10 and 15%, but above this level, they improved extracellular GSH concentration by 35 and 60%, respectively. Otherwise, total GSH concentration and intracellular GSH content decreased slightly. The effect of Brij30 was somewhat like ionic surfactants, extracellular GSH concentration could be increased by 50% but the intracellular GSH content was reduced by 33%. Tween80 seemed to have no effect on extracellular GSH accumulation, but total GSH concentration and intracellular GSH content decreased gradually by increasing its concentration.

γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase and [formula omitted]-Cysteine Regulate Methylmercury Uptake by HepG2 Cells, a Human Hepatoma Cell Line

Mechanisms of methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (Hg) uptake were examined in HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma-derived cell line. MeHg uptake was faster when it was present as the l-cysteine complex, as compared to the glutathione (GSH), CysGly, γ-GluCys, d-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, l-penicillamine, or albumin complexes. Uptake of MeHg-l-cysteine was independent of Na+, stereoselective, and was inhibited by the amino acid transport system l substrates l-leucine, l-valine, and l-phenylalanine (5 mM). Moreover, [3H]l-leucine uptake was inhibited by MeHg-l-cysteine, suggesting that MeHg-l-cysteine is transported into HepG2 cells by an l-type amino acid carrier. Uptake of MeHg as the GSH complex (MeHg-SG) was dependent on the extracellular GSH concentration, and was diminished when cellular γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity was inhibited. Inorganic mercury uptake was slower than that of MeHg, but was also sensitive to the type of thiol ligand present. These findings demonstrate that mercury uptake by HepG2 cells is dependent on the chemical structure of the mercury compound, the thiol ligand, and the activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase appears to play a key role in the disposition of MeHg-SG by facilitating the formation of MeHg-l-cysteine, which is readily transported into the cells on an amino acid-type carrier.

Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration, iron (II), and hydroxyl radical evoke release and extracellular hydrolysis of glutathione in rat striatum and substantia nigra: potential implications to Parkinson's disease.

In this investigation, microdialysis has been used to study the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the active metabolite of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), on extracellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (CySH) in the rat striatum and substantia nigra (SN). During perfusion of a neurotoxic concentration of MPP+ (2.5 mM) into the rat striatum or SN, extracellular concentrations of GSH and CySH remain at basal levels (both approximately 2 microM). However, when the perfusion is discontinued, a massive but transient release of GSH occurs, peaking at 5,000% of basal levels in the striatum and 2,000% of basal levels in the SN. The release of GSH is followed by a slightly delayed and smaller elevation of extracellular concentrations of CySH that can be blocked by the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) inhibitor acivicin. Low-molecular-weight iron and extracellular hydroxyl radical (OH*) have been implicated as participants in the mechanism underlying the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP/MPP+. During perfusion of Fe2+ (OH*) into the rat striatum and SN, extracellular levels of GSH also remain at basal levels. When perfusions of Fe2+ are discontinued, a massive transient release of GSH occurs followed by a delayed, small, but progressive elevation of extracellular CySH level that again can be blocked by acivicin. Previous investigators have noted that extracellular concentrations of the excitatory/excitotoxic amino acid glutamate increase dramatically when perfusions of neurotoxic concentrations of MPP+ are discontinued. This observation and the fact that MPTP/MPP+ causes the loss of nigrostriatal GSH without corresponding increases of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the results of the present investigation suggest that the release and gamma-GT/dipeptidase-mediated hydrolysis of GSH to glutamate, glycine, and CySH may be important factors involved with the degeneration of dopamine neurons. It is interesting that a very early event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is a massive loss of GSH in the SN pars compacta that is not accompanied by corresponding increases of GSSG levels. Based on the results of this and prior investigations, a new hypothesis is proposed that might contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the degeneration of dopamine neurons evoked by MPTP/MPP+, other agents that impair neuronal energy metabolism, and Parkinson's disease.

Glutathione Movements during Cold Preservation of Rat Hepatocytes

In this study we have examined the movements of glutathione (GSH) during cold preservation of rat hepatocytes in University of Wisconsin solution. During the preservation process at a low temperature (4°C), with a high extracellular potassium concentration, an extracellular nondiffusible anion (lactobionate), and a Cl−-free medium, there is a depletion of metabolites and the development of a time-dependent injury. Also, there is a loss of GSH that is not compensated by transport or synthesis and is basically due to increased catabolic processes. This sensitizes the cells to different forms of oxidative injury, which can play a negative role during transplantation. The addition of GSH improves liver cell preservation but the mechanism is unclear. To elucidate this process we have isolated hepatocytes and preserved them under different conditions: with or without GSH; in the presence ofdl-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthetase, and acivicine to inhibit the ectoactivity of cellular gammaglutamyl transpeptidase; or by obtaining hepatocytes from rats depleted of GSH by an injection of diethyl maleate. Under all these conditions we evaluated the GSH content of the cells during cold storage. We also report the time course of accumulation of [glycine-2-3H]GSH. Our results show that during hypothermic storage in University of Wisconsin solution, hepatocytes are permeable to GSH, and the mechanism involved is a rapid nonsaturable process, with linear dependence of the extracellular GSH concentration. This finding may have valuable applications in the improvement of the delivery of compounds to cells.

Determination of extracellular glutathione in livers of anaesthetized rats by microdialysis with on-line high-performance liquid chromatography.

An on-line analytical system for the continuous in vivo monitoring of extracellular glutathione (gamma-glutamyl-cysteinylglycine) (GSH) concentrations in the livers of anaesthetized rats was developed. Microdialysates perfused through implanted microdialysis probes were collected with a loading loop of an on-line injector for direct and automatic injection into a high-performance liquid chromatographic system equipped with an electrochemical detector with Au-Hg electrodes. This method shortened the analysis time and circumvented the sample preparation process which is essential for accurate determination of GSH levels in biological samples. Additionally, this method provided continuous and real-time monitoring of extracellular GSH levels. Basal extracellular GSH concentrations in the livers of anaesthetized rate were found to vary over a wide range (from 4.16 to 76.5 microM). The method was applied to study the effect of global liver ischaemia on extracellular GSH concentrations and it was found that extracellular GSH levels in livers increased immediately with the onset of ischaemia and remained elevated for the 30-min ischaemic period. Ensuing reperfusion did reduce the GSH increase; however, the GSH levels did not return to the basal value.

Determination of extracellular glutathione in rat brain by microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method for the continuous monitoring of extracellular glutathione (GSH) concentrations in rat brain has been developed. This method involved the in vivo sampling of brain extracellular fluid by microdialysis perfusion and the subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Perfusates from the microdialysis probes were directly derivatized with methanolic monobromobimane which acted as the fluorescence tag. Separation of the derivatized perfusate was achieved on narrow-bore reversed-phase C 18 columns. Recoveries of GSH from the microdialysis probes ranged from 1.5% to 4%. The basal extracellular GSH concentration in rat (Sprague—Dawley) brain cortex was found to be 2.10 ± 1.78 μ M (mean ± S.D.) (results of 18 rats). Fluorescence detection and separation on narrow-bore columns provided adequate sensitivity for accurate determination of brain extracellular GSH concentrations in rats. With this method, the extracellular GSH concentrations in the cerebral cortex were found to be significantly elevated upon the onset of cerebral ischemia induced by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries.

Glutathione and GSH-dependent enzymes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells in response to ozone

The purpose of this study was to determine if in vivo ozone exposure results in elevations in the levels of glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes in cells derived from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Our hypothesis was that, as part of a defense mechanism against oxygen toxicity, such cells would have increased levels of glutathione (GSH) in response to an oxidant stress. Female F344/N rats were exposed to 0.8 ppm ozone, 6 hr/day, for 1, 3, or 7 days, after which cells were collected by lung lavage. The GSH and GSH-peroxidase activity per milligram of protein in the cellular fraction, both necessary for reducing cellular peroxides, were elevated after 3 days of ozone exposure. After 7 days of exposure, cellular GSH had returned to control values, but the activity of glutathione reductase, the enzyme that reduces oxidized glutathione to GSH, was increased. Extracellular GSH concentration and glutathione reductase activity in BALF were also increased after 7 days of exposure. The totalglutathione equivalents (GSH and GSSG, both cellular and extracellular) in BALF increased throughout the 7-day exposure, with GSH increasing first in the cells, and then in the extracellular fluid. This study demonstrated that the glutathione anti-oxidant system of BALF cells is stimulated by exposure to ozone. This response may serve to protect cells from the toxic effects of oxidant stress.

Regulation of intracellular glutathione levels and lymphocyte functions by lactate

The plasma concentration of lactate varies strongly under physiological and pathological conditions in the range of 1 to 30 m M. High but physiologically relevant lactate concentrations were previously shown to exert strong immunopotentiating effects and to augment the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2). However, the lactate derivative pyruvate can form covalent complexes with cysteine, suggesting the possibility that lactate may affect indirectly intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH-dependent lymphocyte functions. The experiments in this report now showed that 20–30 m M lactate had virtually no effect on the viability and intracellular protein content of mitogenically stimulated accessory cell-depleted splenic T cells or unfractionated spleen cells but indeed caused a marked decrease of the intracellular GSH level when compared with control cultures after 40–70 hr of incubation. The DNA synthesis of mitogenically stimulated splenic T cell cultures, i.e., a strongly GSH-dependent function, was also inhibited by lactate. This effect was overcome by high extracellular concentrations of GSH or cysteine. Lactate also inhibited the IL-2 consumption in mitogenically stimulated CD8 + T cell cultures and the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the late phase of mixed lymphocyte cultures. Additional experiments showed, finally, that lactate augments the incorporation of [ 14C]aspartate into 18 S and 28 S RNA, while incorporation of [ 14C]uridine is moderately inhibited, indicating that the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleosides is markedly augmented in cells that are exposed to high extracellular lactate concentrations. Taken together, these studies show that high but physiologically relevant concentrations of lactate exert strong positive and negative effects on distinct aspects of T cell-mediated immune responses.

C-6-Sulfidopeptide leukotrienes are unlikely to be involved in the endothelium dependent relaxation of rabbit aorta by acetylcholine

Acetylcholine (ACh) induced dilation of precontracted strips of rabbit aorta by a mechanism dependent on an intact endothelium, probably by releasing an unknown endothelial relaxing factor (ERF). The relaxation was completely inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nor-dihydroguaiaretic acid (10 −5 M) but not by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 −5 M). The aortic strips were found to release small amounts of a material with a leukotriene-like activity. Its action on the guinea pig ileum was antagonized by FPL 55712 (10 −6 M). However, FPL 55712 (10 −6 - 10 −4 M) did not alter the response of rabbit aortic strips to ACh. Also when decreasing intracellular concentrations of glutathion (GSH) by incubating the strips with diethylmaleat or 2-cyclohexen-1-one (both 10 −3 M) the vasodilator response could still be elicited. Leukotriene (LT) C 4 and LTD 4 (10 −9 - 10 −10 M) were found to be ineffective on oartic strips under basal or induced tension. The same held true for LTE 4 ( 10 −9 - 10 −7 M). At 10 −6 M, however, LTE 4 induced slight relaxations of the vascular tissues. For reasons discussed this is likely to be a pharmacological action independent of the effects of endogenous ERF (e.g. inhibition of the formation of the LTE 4 precursor LTD 4 by high extracellular GSH concentrations did not reverse the ACh-induced vasodilation). It is concluded from these data, that C-6-sulfidopeptide leukotrienes, although probably produced by vascular tissue, are unlikely to be involved in the ACh-induced relaxation of rabbit aorta.