Peculiarities of the antioxidant status of the thyroid gland.

The intensity of lipid peroxidation and activity of the antioxidant system in the thyroid gland were compared with those in the liver, kidney, heart, and frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres in euthyroid male Wistar rats. The thyroid gland was characterized by low activity of first-line antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, considerable concentration of reduced glutathione, and high activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Our results suggest that the system of glutathione metabolism determines antioxidant status of the thyroid gland.