The effect of melatonin on glutathione and glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the mouse liver and kidney in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
The changes in reduced glutathione (GSH), activity of glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSPx) after administration of exogenous melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine) at a dose 20 mg/kg b.w. were investigated for five and ten days in the liver and kidney of male and female mice.


METHODS
The liver and kidney were homogenized in 0.1 M phosphate buffer. Glutathione level and activity of studied glutathione enzymes were determined in the supernatants.


RESULTS
Melatonin caused an increase in glutathione level, the activity of glutathione peroxidase as well as glutathione transferase in the examined organs.


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin may exert some effects on the activity of enzymes engaged in the metabolism of thiol compounds in the cell. Glutathione may be useful for monitoring melatonin's protective role on cell damage.
Swiderska-Kołacz
Grazyna
G
Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Swietokrzyska Academy, Kielce, Poland. kolacz@pu.kielce.pl
Klusek
Jolanta
J
Kołataj
Adam
A
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation
D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione; D008550:Melatonin