Mercury and the activity of erythrocyte and bone marrow glutathione reductase (E.C. 1.6.4.2.) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.49) in rats

Abstract

These studies were carried out on male Wistar rats. Erythrocyte and bone marrow activity of glutathione reductase (GR - E.C. 1.6.4.2) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD - E.C. 1.1.1.49) were determined as affected by mercury. Under physiological conditions the above enzymes were found to be markedly more active in the bone marrow than in erythrocytes. The present experiments have revealed that within the first days there will be an increase in enzyme activity in the bone marrow as well as in glutathione reductase in erythrocytes. Simultaneously, a decline in the activity of erythrocytes could be observed which began within the very first days of the experiments as well as a decrease in the bone marrow, which occurred later in the course of the experiment.