The anticonvulsive effect of glutathione in mice.

To explore the role of glutathione as a neuromodulator, we investigated effects of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) on drug-induced convulsions in mice. Intracerebroventricular administration of GSH or GSSG (10-300 nmol) did not produce convulsions. When GSH was administered prior to subcutaneous administration of pentylenetetrazol (80 mg/kg), it significantly inhibited pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions. The inhibitory effect of GSH was dose dependent, and mimicked by GSSG. In addition, neither GSH nor GSSG affected convulsions induced by subcutaneous administration of N-methyl-DL-aspartate (400 mg/kg). These findings suggest that glutathione has a specific anticonvulsive effect.