Total glutathione and glutathione reductase in bovine erythrocytes and liver biopsy

The goal of the present study was to measure the total glutathione level and glutathione reductase activity in bovine erythrocytes and liver biopsy. Five cows were injected intraperitoneally with DL-ethionine (12.5 mg/kg B.W.), and two control cows were injected with normal saline (0.9% NaCl). Ultrasonography guided liver biopsy, and blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 7 and 10 days after injection. The hepatic total glutathione level was significantly increased on Days 7 (p<0.05) and 10 (p<0.01), and hepatic glutathione reductase activity was significantly increased on Days 4 (p<0.05), 7 (p<0.01) and 10 (p<0.01). There were insignificant changes in the erythrocytic total glutathione level. The present study demonstrated that liver biopsy is a valuable tool for detecting oxidative stress and for diagnosing hepatic dysfunction in cattle from the viewpoint of the status of glutathione and glutathione reductase.