Background. Reactive oxygen species may play an important role in gastric ulceration induced by several kinds of stress. Detoxification of these radical species involves conversion of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione. Endogenous glutathione has been reported as a possible mediator in gastric mucosal protection. Stressinduced ischemia may adversely affect gastric energy metabolism, an important factor in mucosal selfdefense against injury. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between endogenous glutathione and ATP levels in stressinduced gastric mucosal ulceration.
Design. On 20 male Wistar type albino rats, who where subjected to stress by the immobilization, ATP levels was determined by the modified Bucher technique, reduced glutathione levels by the method of Fairbanks and glutathione peroxidase activities by the spectrophotometric assay of Paglia and Valentine.
Results. Significant decreases were found in ATP, reduced glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activities in the rats subjected to stress.
Conclusion. Regeneration and de novo synthesis of reduced glutathione might be reduced as a consequence of decreased of availability of ATP and some cofactors induced by the ischemic episode.