The redox state of the glutathione in the bovine corneal epithelium.

In the corneal epithelium the levels of the oxidized and reduced glutathione, the oxidized and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide, the glucose-6-phosphate and the 6-phosphogluconate were investigated. The in vivo steady state levels were defined by preparation procedures and by the energy state of the adenosine phosphate system. The ratios of the levels of the metabolites involved suggested that the reactions of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and of the glutathione reductase operate dependent on the redox state of the triphosphopyridine nucleotides.