Oxidative state of glutathione in arterial and venous red blood cells and plasma of rabbit.

Reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione levels in arterial and venous rabbit red blood cells (RBC) and plasma are reported. No significant differences were noted between arterial and venous erythrocytes GSH and GSSG content. Plasma GSH levels were found to be the same in both arterial and venous samples. Contrarily, the concentrations of GSSG were higher in venous than in arterial plasma. These findings cannot be attributed solely to the increased RBC oxidative activity that occurs in the venous system. The phenomenon may reflect the oxidative state present in other tissues and may thus be a harbinger of differences in GSH content.