Is hydrogen peroxide involved in the benzyl viologen-mediated in-vivo inactivation of rat liver glutamine synthetase?

After benzyl viologen administration to rats, a decrease in the rat liver glutamine synthetase activity was observed. An increase in the rat liver catalase activity was found concomitantly. In combination with the catalase inhibitor aminotriazole, benzyl viologen again diminished, but markedly, the rat liver glutamine synthetase activity. Moreover, partially purified glutamine synthetase from rat liver underwent rapid inactivation upon aerobic incubation with NAD(P)H and benzyl viologen. This inactivation was prevented by catalase, which suggests that the NAD(P)H/BV2+/O2-dependent system has a role in H2O2 production. Our results suggest that H2O2 is involved in the benzyl viologen-mediated in-vivo inactivation of the rat liver glutamine synthetase. In contrast, benzyl viologen alone or in combination with aminotriazole produced a significant increase of brain glutamine synthetase.