Influence of aging and drug treatment on the cerebral glutathione system

Age-related changes of the components of the glutathione system (reduced and oxidized glutathione) were evaluated in forebrains from male Wistar rats aged 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 months. The trend of both forms of glutathione and the glutathione redox index markedly differs with age. Reduced glutathione increases during the first third of a rat's life and decreases thereafter. In contrast, oxidized glutathione remains relatively constant during the first half of the life-span and increases thereafter. Thus, the glutathione redox index steadily declines with age after an increase during the first third of the rat's life-span. In rats aged 10, 20 or 30 months, chronic IP treatment for two months with drugs known to modify cerebral circulation (papaverine) or the cerebral metabolism (ergot alkaloids dihydroergocristine, dihydroergocriptine) indicates that, according to the age, the cerebral glutathione system may be modified by metabolic changes rather than by circulatory events.