Effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) on activity of lysosomal system in subcellular fractions of mouse kidney

Investigated was the effect of intraperitoneal injections (twice daily for seven consecutive days) of reduced glutathione (GSH) on activity of selected lysosomal hydrolases (alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase, cathepsins D and L, acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase) in lysosomal, microsomal and cytosol fractions of mouse kidney. Most notable effect of exogenous GSH on the activity of the enzymes considered was observed in lysosomal, while the least in microsomal fraction. After a series of GSH injections the activity of enzymes increased significantly mainly in lysosomal fraction. It is assumed that the increase in activity of lysosomal enzymes following the GSH injections results from a physiological response of renal cells to this antioxidant.