Glutathione and related enzyme activity in the 11-day rat embryo, placenta and perinatal rat liver.

- Serafini MT, Arola L, Romeu A

Biol Neonate. 1991;60(3-4):236-42.

Glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2; GSSG-R), glutathione peroxidase (EC.1.11.1.9; GSHpx) and glutathione transferase (EC 2.5.1.18; GST) enzymatic activities and glutathione status were investigated in 11-day embryos and the yolk sac, placenta and perinatal liver in rats. It is observed that: (a) levels of GSSG differ between the embryo (lower) and yolk sac (higher); (b) GSH concentrations increased significantly in fetal livers with respect to the days of gestation; in contrast, GSSG hepatic concentrations showed a significant rise with respect to time only during lactation; (c) the specific enzymatic activity of both GSHpx and GSSG-R were higher in the visceral yolk sac than in the embryo; (d) hepatic GSSG-R activity increased significantly during gestation. In addition, hepatic GSHpx and GST activities showed statistically significant increases over the period studied.

This abstract at PubMed.