; GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE, REDUCED GLUTATHIONE AND CERULOPLASMIN IN DIETHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE TREATED RATS

Intraperitoneal injection of rats with diethyldithiocarbamate (1.2 g/kg body weight) led to a maximum diminution of glutathione reductase at 12 hr by 40% and 56% in liver and red blood cells respectively, with a gradual return to the normal level at 48 hr after administration. Significant inhibition of reduced glutathione was also observed, which returned to normal at 48 hr after administration. However, maximum decline in its content was at 12 hr by 71% and 37% in liver and red blood cells respectively. A similar pattern was exhibited with respect to liver and serum ceruloplasmin in the diethyldithiocarbamate injected rats. It is possible that oxidant stress is developed in the rats by the administration of diethyldithiocarbamate with concomitant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the other antioxidants such as reduced glutathione and ceruloplasmin.