Energy-linked cardiac transport system for glutathione disulfide

The relationship between the rate of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) export and the energy state was studied in isolated perfused rat heart. The intracellular GSSG level was maintained at saturation for transport (7.5 nmol GSSG X min-1 X g heart-1) by continuous perfusion with 20 microM t-butyl hydroperoxide. GSSG release was substantially restricted upon the addition of inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration such as KCN, antimycin A or rotenone. In contrast, no effect was observed on GSSG release during potassium-induced cardiac arrest, although changes in oxygen consumption and coronary flow were similar to those observed with KCN. The dependence of the GSSG transport rate on the cytosolic free ATP/ADP ratio reveals that GSSG transport is half-maximal at (ATP/ADP)free approximately equal to 10. The capacity of GSSG transport was unchanged by infusion of epinephrine, norepinephrine or dibutyryl cyclic AMP.