ABSTRACT
Administration of glutathione subcutaneously to immature female (age and weight matched) rats brings about a pre-ponement of puberty. A significant increase in pituitary, ovaries and uterine mass was observed in the experimental rats. Further, a considerable increase in pituitary FSH levels was also observed after intraventricular injection of glutathione in ovariectomized-steroid primed rats. Intraventricular administration of L-buthionine SR sulfoxamine produced a significant decrease in plasma FSH levels in intact male rats. These studies demonstrate the neuroendocrine role of glutathione on gonadotropins, specifically in relation to FSH release.
Subject(s)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism , Glutathione/physiology , Sexual Maturation/physiology , Animals , Antimetabolites/administration & dosage , Antimetabolites/pharmacology , Body Weight/drug effects , Buthionine Sulfoximine/administration & dosage , Buthionine Sulfoximine/pharmacology , Female , Glutathione/metabolism , Injections, Intraventricular , Injections, Subcutaneous , Male , Organ Size/drug effects , Organ Size/physiology , Ovariectomy , Ovary/drug effects , Ovary/physiology , Pituitary Gland/drug effects , Pituitary Gland/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Uterus/drug effects , Uterus/physiologyABSTRACT
Glutathione content and glutamyl transpeptidase activity in different regions of adult female rat brain were determined at 10 and 30 min following intraventricular injection of LHRH and somatostatin. Hypothalamic glutathione levels were significantly elevated at 10 and 30 min after a single injection of a 0.1 micrograms dose of LHRH. On the contrary, glutathione levels significantly decreased in the hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum at 10 and 30 min after 0.5 or 1 microgram dose. However, significant decrease in brain stem glutathione was evident at 30 min after 0.5 microgram and 10 min after the 1 microgram dose. Somatostatin at doses of 0.5 microgram and 1 microgram significantly decreased glutathione levels in all four brain regions both at 10 and 30 min following injection into the 3rd ventricle. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex was significantly elevated after intraventricular injection of LHRH. However, a significant increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in cerebellum and brain stem was seen only with 0.5 and 1 micrograms doses of LHRH. Somatostatin also significantly increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. The decrease in glutathione levels with corresponding increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity after intraventricular administration of LHRH and somatostatin suggests a possible interaction between glutathione and hypothalamic peptides.
