Relationship between oxidation of glutathione and reactive nitrogen species during the early-reperfusion phase of cerebral ischemia.

A timed profile of glutathione oxidation and reactive nitrogen species during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia in rat was obtained. Dialysate was collected every 25 min from a microdialysis probe inserted into the cerebral cortex before and after cerebral ischemia. NO2-, NO3-, and reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH, GSSG) were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. GSH and GSSG increased and reached a peak: 3408 +/- 1710% (mean +/- SE) at 25 min of reperfusion (P < 0.0001) and 329 +/- 104% at 50 min of reperfusion (P = 0.06), respectively. Oxidation ratio decreased from 0.82 +/- 0.04 to 0.42 +/- 0.07 (P < 0.0001) at 25 min of reperfusion. NO3- levels significantly decreased (68.3 +/- 9.1%) (P < 0.01) during ischemia and remained lower than the control value during reperfusion. NO2- levels did not significantly change. These data suggest that GSH releases during early phase of reperfusion and that its rapid oxidation contributes to prevent an increase in reactive nitrogen species.