Abstract
The rates of GSSG reduction are compared in isolated red cells of neonates and adults after treatment with methyl phenylazoformate according to Kosower with the following modifications: Final azoester concentrations 2.7 and 6.8 mM, incubation with glucose at 22°C, measurement of GSSG at 0,25 and 60 min, graphic determination of the GSSG half time (t 1/2) on a semilogarithmic scale. t 1/2 in red cells of adults and neonates after addition of 2.7 mM azoester was 13.3 ± 3.1 and 14.8 ± 3.6 min, respectively (n = 6; p>.40). Significant differences between neonates and adults became evident, when using 6.8 mM azoester, by which not only the oxidation of intracellular GSH, but also an alteration of cellular membranes is produced: Whereas t 1/2 in adult red cells increased only slightly, to 19.6 ± 3.9 min, the increase in neonatal red cells was more marked, to 34.7 ± 8.7 min (n = 13; p<.001). The increase was less marked in young compared to old cell populations of neonates (26.6 ± 8.7 and 36.1 ± 10.9 min, respectively; n = 5; p<.025). The data provide further indirect evidence, that differences in glutathione metabolism between red cells of neonates and adults are due to different membrane properties rather than to differences in the intracellular metabolism.
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Bartels, H. Reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in azoester treated red cells of neonates and of adults. Pediatr Res 13, 84 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00092
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00092