STUDIES ON GLUCOSE‐6‐PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE, GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE AND REGENERATION OF REDUCED GLUTATHIONE IN THE RED BLOOD CELLS OF VARIOUS MAMMALIAN SPECIES

Abstract

Summary A study has been made of the levels of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activity and the rates of regeneration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in red blood cells from various mammalian species, including man and the kangaroo. The most significant finding was the demonstration of a direct relationship between the enzyme activity and the GSH regeneration rate in the red blood cells of ruminants as against an inverse relationship observed in human red blood cells. The experimental results suggest that the GSH regeneration test should be used with caution in studies aimed to evaluate the overall activity of the hexose monophosphate pathway of the red blood cells of man and animals.