Influence of aging on the acute depletion of reduced glutathione induced by electrophilic agents.

A severe age-dependent depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) occurs in rat forebrain at 1-3 h from intraperitoneal injection of the electrophilic agents cyclohexene-1-one and cycloheptene-1-one. Chronic pretreatment with central dopamine agonists (i.e., ergot alkaloids; particularly, dihydroergocriptine) partially counteracts the GSH depletion induced in 15-month-old forebrains by the prooxidants tested. In contrast, chronic pretreatment with a vasodilator agent (i.e., papaverine) magnifies the GSH depletion.