[Effect of reduced glutathione on carbon tetrachloride induced fatty liver: various considerations]

The hepatic triglyceride accumulation produced by CCL4 poisoning is decreased in rats pretreated with reduce glutathione (GSH) as compared to the non pretreated ones. Such as decrease, however, is not matched by an increase in the release of triglycerides in the blood compartment. In the pretreated animals the endogenous mRNA directed incorporation of aminoacids into the microsomal protein as measured in vitro, is maintained at nearly the normal level 30 min after CCL4 poisoning, but it is strongly depressed 60 min after poisoning. The effectiveness of GSH in decreasing the level of hepatic triglycerides in the intoxicated animals could be ascribed, at least in part, to non specific mechanisms. In fact, the administration of GSH results in the decrease of liver triglycerides even in the non intoxicated rats. In these rats heart triglycerides are decreased too.