title: Glutathione system in young spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: Glutathione (GSH) forms a part of the antioxidant system that plays a vital role in preventing oxidative stress, and an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant system has been linked to the pathogenesis of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of the GSH system in the kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Components of the GSH system, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and total GSH content, were measured in the kidneys of 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks old SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Systolic blood pressure of SHR was significantly higher from the age of 6 weeks onwards compared with age-matched WKY rats. GPx activity in the SHR was significantly lower from the age of 8 weeks onwards when compared to that in age-matched WKY rats. No significant differences were evident in the GPx-1 protein abundance, and its relative mRNA levels, GR, GST activity, and total GSH content between SHR and age-matched WKY rats. The lower GPx activity suggests of an impairment of the GSH system in the SHR, which might be due to an abnormality in its protein rather than non-availability of a cofactor. Its role in the development of hypertension in SHR however remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sundaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arunkumar
authors.forename: K N S
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Sirajudeen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione