The Influence of Cysteine Pre -Treatment on the Glutathione and Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Liver, Kidney and Brain of Mice Treated with Ethanol

Original article

English

B. H. Ali 1, A. A. Abdelgayoum 2, A. A. Bashir 1, M. E1-Fakhri 2

1-Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi. Libya. 2-Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi. Libya.

Garyounis Medical Journal Vol.16, No.1-2. January/July 1993: 21- 32

Abstract

Reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in liver, kidney and brain were measured in mice given ethanol in the drinking water at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20% v/v, for four weeks. In some of these animals, cysteine (100mg/kg)was injected intramuscularly (i.m.). once every three days during the experimental period. Ethanol produced significant and non-dose-dependent decreases in the concentrations of both compounds in the tissues examined.
In another experiment, ethanol (5 g/kg) or physiological saline were administered orally to mice, which were then killed 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h later. There were progressive and significant reductions in the concentrations of GSH or AA in the tissues studied which were maximal at 8 to 12 h. At 24 h the GSH and AA concentrations were not significantly different from those of the control in all the tissues studied, except in the brain in which GSH concentration was still significantly lower than that in the control.
Mice were injected with cysteine (500 mg/kg) or 0.09% v/v NaCl, 24 h before they were given ethanol (5 g/kg) and were killed 24 h later. Ethanol produced significant reductions in GSH and AA. However, cysteine pre-treatment had no significant effect on the ethanol induced changes.

Keywords: The Influence of Cysteine Pre -Treatment on the Glutathione and Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Liver, Kidney and Brain of Mice Treated with Ethanol

Link/DOI: