Effect of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate administration on glutathione and cysteine concentrations in guinea pig liver and kidney.

Effect of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate administration on the glutathione and cysteine concentrations in liver and kidney was studied in the guinea pig. Liver glutathione concentration increased significantly by 21 to 29% at one to three hours after the intraperitoneal injection of 5 mmol of sodium L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate per kg of body weight. Cysteine concentration did not change significantly. In contrast to the liver, a significant increase in cysteine and also a significant decrease in glutathione concentrations were observed in the kidney. Incubation of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate with liver and kidney homogenates resulted in cysteine formation of 1.21 and 0.56 mumol per g of fresh tissue per 30 min, respectively. These results seem to indicate that, in the liver, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate administration resulted in the formation of cysteine, which was utilized for glutathione synthesis. In the kidney, it seems to be suggested that the administration of this compound accelerated glutathione turnover.