[Effect of the ulcerogenic agent cysteamine on the content of glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes in the mucous membrane of the gastroduodenal region in the rat].

A comparative study of reduced and oxidized glutathione forms and the activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione reductase) has been performed in the rat mucous membranes of different gastroduodenal areas 24 hours after the injection of cysteamine--a specific ulcerogenic agent. It has been shown that cysteamine causes a decrease in the concentration of reduced and an increase in the concentration of oxidized glutathione forms in all gastroduodenal areas. The fall in reduced glutathione form concentration is the greatest in the duodenal mucosa. A considerable decrease in glutathione-dependent enzyme activity, especially glutathione-S-transferase, was observed in duodenal mucosa. It is concluded that glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzyme system may be directly related to pathogenetic mechanisms of gastroduodenal ulcer formation.