Effects of mercuric chloride on several scavenging enzymes in rat kidney and influence of vitamin E supplementation.

Administration of HgCl2 at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight/day for 15 days to male albino rats brought about a marked depression of the scavenging enzymes viz. glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase, in kidney. There was an adaptive rise in the levels of catalase and no increased lipid peroxidation was observed. The levels of both glutathione and glutathione reductase were decreased, whereas total thiol increased. In the intoxicated rats, Vitamin-E was effective in bringing back glutathione levels to normal. The adaptation in this group of animals is reflected by increased superoxide dismutase activities. Feeding of Vitamin-E alone could cause a depression of the scavenging enzymes like glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase along with a slight lowering of glutathione levels.