A specific, sensitive, and rapid method for the determination of glutathione and its application in ocular tissues

Abstract

A method for specific determination of glutathione (GSH) is described. This method utilizes the enzymatic conjugation of GSH to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene through reaction catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. The recovery of GSH as determined by this method is comparable to that in currently used methods. The method is specific for GSH determination. Other sulfhydryl (-SH) compounds including the protein -SH or beta-mercaptoethanol, which are often included in tissue homogenates, do not interfere with GSH determination. Acid extraction of the tissue is not required in this method and comparatively smaller amounts of tissue samples (as little as 20 microliters of a 10% w/v tissue homogenate) are needed for the analyses. The method when applied for GSH determination in ocular tissues yielded results in agreement with the reported values in literature. Evidence for the sensitivity, accuracy, and convenience of the method is provided by analysing the sample containing GSH in the range of 1-200 nmol by this method.