Effects of thioctic acid on the glutathione redox cycle after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

We investigated the effects of thioctic acid on the functioning of the glutathione redox cycle and the activities of several NADPH-generating enzymes in the rat brain after acute ischemia-reperfusion. Administration of thioctic acid to the animals with postischemic reperfusion resulted in a decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, which was increased after the pathology. The content of reduced glutathione was also close to the control value. Moreover, under ischemia-reperfusion conditions, the injection of thioctic acid decreased the activities of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; this decrease was possibly due to a lowering of the NADPH consumption by glutathione-dependent mechanisms of antiradical defense. Thus, our data show that thioctic acid can regulate the progress of oxidative stress and state of glutathione antioxidant system.