Glutathione enhancement in various mouse organs and protection by glutathione isopropyl ester against liver injury

Intraperitoneal administration of glutathione isopropyl ester to fasted, male NMRI mice dose dependently increased the glutathione concentration in various organs. Administration of 1 g/kg glutathione isopropyl ester led to the following increases: liver 166%; lung 164%; heart 121% after 4 hr; and brain 133% after 6 hr. Spleen, kidney, muscle, serum and blood cell glutathione were not affected by the treatment. Pretreatment with glutathione isopropyl ester was found to protect against paracetamol- or allyl alcohol-induced liver damage. Following treatment with the ester a significant correlation between protection against liver damage and enhancement of liver glutathione content was obtained. The dose dependence of this protection was studied.