Abstract
Red cells previously depletioned of glutathione incubated with amino acid precursors can be used to evaluate glutathione synthesis velocity (GSV) and thus, indirectly the measurement of cystathionase activity which renders indispensable for the step from cystathionine to cysteine. This can be achieved substituting methionine with NAcetyl-cysteine (NAC). Thus we do not need to use other tissues from living in fants. We determined GSV at different GA and adult controls. Healthy newborns were grouped after GA:A(24-32wk); B(33-36wk) and C(term). Half of the red cells sampled were incubated with glutathione aa precursors (×1O plasma concentration); the rest with NAC instead of methionine. GSV determined by method of Brigelius
Simple regression: GSV(aa): R=0.67 p<0.01; GSV(NAC): R=0.42 NS 1)Glutathione synthesis in prematures is lower than in term infants and adults. 2) In prematures when using NAC instead of methionine, GSV increases suggesting an impaired synthesis of cysteine. 3) Enzyme cystathionase matures probably along gestation.
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Vento, M., Moya, M., Cortés, E. et al. 190 GLUTATHIONE SYNTHESIS VELOCITY IN PRETERM BABIES. Pediatr Res 28, 308 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199009000-00214
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199009000-00214