OXIDATIVE STRESS-INDUCED BY INTERACTION BETWEEN ORGANIC SELENIUM-COMPOUNDS AND REDUCED GLUTATHIONE IN RAT ERYTHROCYTES

Oxidative stress in the rat erythrocytes induced by interaction between organic selenium compound and reduced glutathione (GSH) was investigated in vitro. Erythrocytes simultaneously treated with selenocystamine or selenocystine and GSH revealed the increase of hemolysis and TBA-RS formation and the depressed GSH content. The elevation of TBA-RS formation induced by the interaction was depressed by the addition of catalase (Cat). The chemical interaction between organic selenium compound and GSH was confirmed by reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium. This reduction was depressed by the addition of SOD or Cat. Hydrogen peroxide was generated in the extracellular solution of rat erythrocytes which were treated with organic selenium compound and GSH. Hydrogen peroxide added in the erythrocytes, which were pretreated with GSH-depressor diethylmalate, increased TBA-RS formation. These results demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide which is formed by the interaction of organic selenium compound and GSH may permeate into erythrocyte membranes and induce lipid peroxidation.