title: Enhancement of renal and hepatic glutathione metabolism by dimethylthiourea.
abstract: Dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a free radical scavenger, was administered to rats to study its effect on renal and hepatic glutathione metabolism, since it is a potential sulfhydryl donor. Six hours following DMTU, renal GSH content was significantly (P < 0.05) increased (10%), and was increased further after 24 h (28%) (P < 0.001). Hepatic GSH content was also significantly (P < 0.001) elevated at 6 and 24 h (5 and 33%, respectively). Seven days of daily DMTU therapy significantly (P < 0.001) increased renal and hepatic GSH content by 36 and 54%, respectively, which was associated with a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the renal activities of glutathione peroxidase (GP) by 38%, glutathione transferase (GT) by 92%, and glutathione reductase (GR) by 19% (P < 0.05). Significantly increased activities of hepatic GP by 84% (P < 0.01) and GT by 101% (P < 0.001) also occurred in DMTU-treated rats after 7 days of continuous therapy. From these data, we conclude that DMTU stimulates renal and hepatic GSH metabolism, which may be important in mediating DMTU's protective effect against free radical-induced tissue injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-2165.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Houser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; C038983:1,3-dimethylthiourea; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione; D013890:Thiourea