[Glutathione in cognitive function and neurodegeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To review the main findings on the glutathione role in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity processes, as well as, its involvement in neurotrophic and neurodegenerative events in rodents.


METHODS
The tripeptide glutathione and its related enzymes participate in the maintenance of oxidant homeostasis in aerobic cells. Oxidative damage to neuronal components underlies the molecular basis of neurodegeneration and brain aging. Several biomolecules with redox dependent activity are involved in the neuronal plasticity events that have a role in learning and memory functions. The maintenance of normal glutathione level is important for acquisition, but not consolidation, of spatial memory. Glutathione unavailability induces failures in hippocampal synaptic plasticity mechanisms, which are possibly related to a spatial memory deficit. On the other hand, several studies have suggested that the beneficial effects of neurotrophic treatments are mediated by the modulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms. In fact, nerve growth factor treatment to cognitively impaired rats stimulates glutathione reductase and can prevent the increases in glutathione peroxidase activity, pointing these enzymes as possible intracellular targets of neurotrophin actions on oxidant homeostasis.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a closed link between glutathione metabolism and oxidant homeostasis, which is expressed in learning and synaptic plasticity deficits in conditions of low glutathione content, as well as, in neurodegeneration induced glutathione metabolism changes that can be prevented by neurotrophic treatment
Cruz
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R
Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica (CIREN), Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. reyniel@searchbug.com
Almaguer Melian
W
W
Bergado Rosado
J A
JA
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005978:Glutathione
El glutatión en la función cognitiva y la neurodegeneración.