Possible Interaction: Glutathione and Thimerosal

“Research indicates that the availability of thiols, particularly GSH , can influence the effects of thimerosal (TM) and other mercury (Hg) compounds.”

“Reduced glutathione did not restore the sodium current amplitude when given extracellularly, while intracellular glutathione prevented the inhibitory effect of thimerosal.”

“ Thimerosal reacted rapidly with cysteine, GSH , human serum albumin, and single-stranded DNA to form ethylmercury adducts that were detectable by mass spectrometry.”

“Furthermore, thimerosal enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species and reduced intracellular glutathione ( GSH).”

“There is evidence for the involvement of the glutathione system in the metabolism of thimerosal or its decomposition products (organomercury alkyl compounds).”

“ Thimerosal administration significantly decreased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione ( GSH ), and protein content while increased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels dose-dependently.”

“It can be seen from the results glutathione in combination with thiomers has a significant influence for increasing permeation.”

“ Thimerosal at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 microM reduced the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, and the complete depletion of cellular glutathione was observed when the cells were treated with 30 microM thimerosal.”

“Indomethacin had no effect on these relaxations.5.The thiol compounds glutathion , 2-mercaptoethanol and a low concentration of dithiothreitol prevented (and reversed) relaxations induced by thimerosal , but had little or no effect on ACh relaxations.”

“Moreover, the inhibitory effect of thimerosal on the nitrergic, ACh- or GTN-induced relaxations were partly reversed by sulfhydryl-containing compounds, L-cysteine (10(-3) M), dithiothreitol (10(-3) M), or glutathione (10(-3) M).”