Triethyl lead toxicity in relation to brain glutathione and glutathione S-transferase.

A dose-dependent decrease in the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) was found in the brain of rats following treatment with Pb(Et)3 for varying time intervals. Maximum inhibition of 19% was observed 3 h after the last dose of Pb(Et)3 (8 mg/kg) daily for 3 days. Glutathione S-transferase activity did not change significantly. In vitro, there was no conjugation of GSH with PbEt3 and the addition of brain cytosol did not catalyse the conjugation.