[The status of glutathione of the rat liver and its dependence on the age and acute stress].

The status of glutathione in the liver of male rats as a function of their age and acute stress was investigated. Total glutathione (TG), which is measured after the reduction of liver homogenate with NaBH4 , reduced glutathione (GSH) and disulfide glutathione (GSSG) increase with advancing age of the test animals (weights from 15 g to 350 g). The mixed glutathione disulfides [XSSG = TG— (GSH + 2 GSSG)] of all ages amount to 2.0 fimol/g liver. Subsequent to the application of a stress with Vaccineurin I I I i.p. (weigth of 120 g), the TG values remain the same over a period of 24 hours; GSH decreases 30 min after the stress has been applied, whereas GSSG and XSSG increase. 60 min after the application of Vaccineurin, all values are within the controlled limits. 24 hours after the stress has been applied, GSH has increased and XSSG has decreased to 0.76 fxmol/g fresh weight, whereas GSSG remains within the controlled limits. The causes of these changes in the status of glutathione are discussed.