Glutathione consumption and inactivation of glutathione-related enzymes in liver, erythrocytes and serum of rats after methanol intoxication.

The primary metabolic fate of methanol is oxidation to formaldehyde and then to formate. These processes are accompanied by formation of superoxide anion and further hydrogen peroxide. Glutathione plays a unique role in the cellular defense system against xenobiotics. The glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) activities were measured in liver, erythrocytes and serum of rats. Rats were intoxicated with 3.0 and 6.0 g methanol/kg body wt. and measurements taken after 6, 12 and 24 h and 2, 5 and 7 days of intoxication. The decrease in GSH content and in GSH-related enzyme activity was observed during the whole time-course of the intoxication. The most significant changes were observed in the erythrocytes. The results obtained show that the protection against oxidative damage due to methanol intoxication in rats seems to be less efficient than in control rats.