Changes in glutathione and glutathione metabolizing enzymes in erythrocytes and lymphocytes of mice as a function of age.

Changes in reduced glutathione levels in liver, lung and whole blood of female Swiss-Webster mice with age were determined. In addition, glutathione content, and glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities of erythrocytes and lymphocytes of mice as a function of age were examined. Reduced glutathione content increased in liver, lung, whole blood, erythrocytes and lymphocytes with age from 3 to 9 months, reached a maximum level at 9 months of age and decreased thereafter with advanced age in all tissues. Glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities in erythrocytes and lymphocytes increased with age from 3 to 9 months, reached maximum activities at 9 months and decreased thereafter with advanced age. The glutathione content of erythrocytes from animals 18 months of age decreased by 56% as compared to 9 month old mice, while the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase decreased by 56 and 48%, respectively, over the same age span.