The Effect of X-rays on Glutathione

Hammctt (I), using the qualitative nitroprusside reaation, demonstrated the destruction of glutathione when water solutions were irradiated with p and y rays from radium. Woodward (2) confirmed Hammett’s observations quantitatively with radon, but failed to find any destruction with as high as 15,600 r units of Roentgen rays. She used the accurate titration method of Woodward and Fry (3) for making her analyses. Hueper et al. (4) could find no effect with Roentgen rays when the same and twice the dose cited above were used, although they noted a drop from 37 mg. per cent to 32 mg. per cent of total glutathione with 255 millicurie hours of radium.