Glutathione Protection Against Potassium in Adrenalectomized Mice

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Abstract
Glutathione is effective in increasing K tolerance in mice, in the absence of adrenal glands. Previous work had shown that glutathione would protect normal mice against K toxicity, and that similar amts. of glutathione lowered the ascorbic acid and the cholesterol content of the adrenals of guinea pigs and rats. Adrenalectomized male mice were subjected to a test of their K tolerance 6 to 25 days after operation. Each of 122 mice was given subcut. 50 mg. of glutathione (0.5 ml. of 10% soln. in 0.85% NaCl neutralized with NaOH to about pH 6.7). Control injns. of 0.5 ml. of 0.85% NaCl were given to 126 mice. After 3 hrs. the animals received an intraperit. injn. of 0.01 ml. of 6% KCl/g. body wt. Only 12% of the saline injd. controls survived, in contrast to 54% of the glutathione-treated adrenalectomized mice. Therefore, tissues other than adrenal would seem to be involved in the protective mechanism.