Sequential postnatal changes in erythrocyte glutathione and sulfhydryl content: a possible adaptational response to...

Glutathione is a key factor in intracellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. We postulated that it might modulate the adaptational response of the fetus to a higher oxygen environment after birth. Therefore, we determined total glutathione (GSH + GSSG) and non-protein sulfhydryl (-SH) content in cord blood RBC hemolysates, and sequential values in blood from the same infants for up to 72 h after birth. We noted a consistent rapid decline in total glutathione content by 24 h in both term (-18%) and preterm (-24%) infants, with subsequent stabilization of levels in term infants. However, erythrocyte (-SH) content (measured only in term babies) remained stable and unchanged from levels in cord blood, indicating the presence of (-SH) in one or more other moieties in addition to GSH. We speculate on the possibility of a role for GSH as a (-SH) donor in modulating postnatal fetal adaptation.