Glutathione in the aqueous humor of human and other species

Glutathione was measured in the aqueous humon of rabbit, dog, monkey, baboon, and man. The average concentrations were 17, 6, 6, 2, and 2 mumol/L of fluid, respectively. Except in the case of the monkey, where delay in aspiration of the aqueous apparently led to anomalous values, nearly all the glutathione was in the reduced state, the range being from 85% in the rabbit to over 99% in the human. Possible sources of the glutathione in the aqueous humor are discussed and also its significance for the physiology of the cornea.