Regulation of brain and hepatic glutathione-S-transferase by sex hormones in rats

Gonadotropin regulation of glutathione synthesis in the rat ovary

Glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant and conjugator of electrophilic toxicants, prevents toxicant-mediated destruction of ovarian follicles and oocytes. Ovarian GSH has previously been shown to change with estrous cycle stage in rats, suggesting that the gonadotropin hormones may regulate ovarian GSH synthesis. The present studies tested the hypotheses that [1] estrous cycle-related changes in ovarian GSH result from cyclic changes in protein and mRNA expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL, also called gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase), and [2] that these changes result from gonadotropin-mediated regulation of GCL subunit expression. In the first experiment, ovaries were harvested from cycling adult female rats on each stage of the estrous cycle. In the second experiment immature female rats were injected with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to stimulate follicular development or with vehicle and killed 8, 24, or 48 h later. In both experiments the ovaries were harvested for [1] total GSH assay, [2] Western analysis for GCL catalytic (GCLc) and regulatory (GCLm) subunit protein levels, or [3] Northern analysis for Gclc and Gclm mRNA levels. Ovarian GSH concentrations and Gclc and Gclm mRNA levels, but not GCL subunit protein levels, varied significantly with estrous cycle stage. PMSG administration significantly increased ovarian GSH concentrations 24 and 48 h later. GCLm protein levels increased significantly at 24 h and 48 h following PMSG. GCLc protein levels did not increase significantly following PMSG. Gcl subunit mRNA levels were not significantly increased at any time point by the planned ANOVA; however, an increase in Gelc at 48 h was identified by t-testing. These results support the hypothesis that gonadotropins regulate ovarian GSH synthesis by modulating GCL subunit expression.

Modulation of intracellular glutathione and cysteine metabolism in bovine oviduct epithelial cells cultured In vitro

The objective of this study was to determine how alterations in intracellular thiol levels of oviduct epithelium occur in response to chemical or environmental conditions that could result in oxidative stress. Bovine oviducts were classified as follicular (F) or luteal (L) according to the reproductive stage of the ovary. Epithelial cells were harvested from the ampulla (AMP) and isthmus (ISTH) region of each oviduct, suspended in culture medium, and then plated into collagen-coated culture plates and grown to confluency. Basal levels of intracellular cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) were determined in oviduct epithelial cells and found to range from 0.36 to 0.46 pmol/ microg protein for Cys and from 5.3 to 6.4 pmol/ microg protein for GSH. Oxidized Cys values ranged from 21% to 39% of total Cys, whereas the oxidized GSH levels observed were from 21% to 28% of total GSH except in luteal ISTH, where they were significantly lower (6%). Confluent cells were exposed to GSH-depleting agents, <FONT SIZE=-1>L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO) or diethyl maleate (DEM), at doses ranging from 10 to 5000 microM. Both compounds depleted GSH in a dose-dependent manner, and 500 microM concentrations were chosen for subsequent studies with each compound. Cys levels in BSO (500 microM)-treated oviduct epithelial cells were transiently elevated over control values during the initial 5-h incubation; there was then a decrease in Cys levels by AMP but not ISTH oviduct epithelial cells. BSO-treated oviduct epithelial cells displayed a continued depletion of GSH over the incubation period and by 24 h were depleted by 38% to 61%. These results demonstrate a difference in GSH turnover in oviduct epithelial cells associated with reproductive stage. Exposure to DEM (500 microM) caused a decline in both Cys and GSH levels, which were partially restored after DEM removal. In general, L-staged oviduct epithelial cells were observed to be more competent at replenishing thiol stores than F-staged oviduct epithelial cells. Results from this study suggest that reproductive stage and region influence intracellular oviduct epithelium thiol status and therefore may affect how this tissue responds to chemicals or environmental conditions leading to oxidative stress.

Variations due to hyperoxia and ageing in the activities of glutathione S-transferase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase

We have studied the influence of hyperoxia and ageing on the activities of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and glutathione S-transferase in different rat organs. Lung glutathione S-transferase activity increases markedly in 5-day-old pups exposed to hyperoxia, as observed for the O2- scavenging enzyme, superoxide dismutase. The levels of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase increase as well but after a 3-day lag period. In the liver, there is a pronounced decrease of both activities in 24-month-old rats, but at 12 months the activity of glutathione S-transferase increases whereas that of NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity decreases with respect to 3 months. The pattern of variations with age of NADPH cytochrome c reductase is similar in liver and brain. However the behaviour of brain glutathione S-transferase parallels that of the liver enzyme only up to 12 months. Thereafter the brain activity is maintained at a high level. These observations open the possibility that the high glutathione S-transferase levels in the old rat brain might be involved in protection towards oxidative alterations during ageing.

Age and sex related differences in some rat renal NADPH-consuming detoxification enzymes

Age- and sex-associated changes in some renal drug-metabolizing enzyme activities (NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, the glutathione peroxidase-glutathione reductase system, and thioredoxin reductase) were investigated using male and female Wistar rats (ages ranging from -4 days to 24 months). During aging the activities of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and thioredoxin reductase showed a marked decrease (approximately 50% in both enzymes compared to adult stage). Glutathione reductase activity presented similar values in adulthood and aging, and glutathione peroxidase activity showed an increase with age (30% compared with the adult values). A marked sex difference was observed in young rats for glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase activities. However, during aging this difference disappears for glutathione peroxidase activity, but it remains for thioredoxin reductase activity (the specific activity in male old rats was approximately two-fold that obtained from female old rats). The variations in these enzymatic activities may be important when determining the changes in susceptibility of the kidneys to toxic chemicals with aging.

Effects of development and ageing on pulmonary NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and thioredoxin reductase activities in male and female rats

The behaviour of the principal NADPH-consuming detoxification enzymes (NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, glutathione peroxidase-glutathione reductase system, and thioredoxin reductase) was studied during development and senescence of the rat lung. We have also studied the influence of sex on the development and senescent values. The NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity increases at birth and afterwards remains constant until the 25th day after birth, at which age there is a maximum activity. Its activity decreases during the ageing period in both sexes. The glutathione reductase and thioredoxin reductase activities show significant differences with respect to sex during the adult stage, however during ageing these differences disappear. These enzymes show maximum activity at 25 days after birth, and afterwards the activity decreases continuously until the adult levels are reached. The activity of glutathione reductase is increased during the ageing period, especially in the female rats, however, in senescence the levels of thioredoxin reductase are lower than in the adult stage. The glutathione peroxidase shows a significant difference between both sexes during senescence and in the male its activity in this stage is higher than during development and adulthood.

Isoelectric focusing of brain cortex GSH S-transferase activity in mammals: evidence that polymorphism is absent in man

Specific activities of GSH S-transferase toward different model substrates were determined in the cytosol prepared from rat, guinea pig, rabbit, mouse, sheep, beef, pig and human brain cortex. The GSH S-transferase composition of the eight mammalian brain cortices was studied by using density gradient isoelectric focusing technique. Human brain cortex GSH S-transferase was resolved into a single peak of activity centered at pH 4.6, whereas the supernatants of all other mammals consisted of more than one enzymatic form. The kinetic properties of all forms isolated were compared.