Erythrocyte glutathione and its metabolizing enzymes in bovine urinary bladder cancer.

Glutathione and its metabolizing enzymes were studied in erythrocytes of cattle suffering from urinary bladder cancer and associated hematuria. The concentration of glutathione (GSH) and GSH peroxidase activity were subnormal in the affected animals, whereas activities of GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase were not altered. Decreased GSH and GSH peroxidase are likely to make erythrocytes of the affected animals more susceptible to oxygen-induced injury and the radiomimetic effect of bracken fern.