A fluorometric method for determination of oxidized and reduced glutathione in tissues

Abstract A method for measurement of both oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione has been developed, with use of o-phthalaldehyde (OPT) as a fluorescent reagent. The method takes advantage of the reaction of GSH with OPT at pH 8 and of GSSG with OPT at pH 12; GSH can be complexed to N-ethylmaleimide to prevent interference of GSH with measurement of GSSG. The method gave “recoveries” of 91 to 110% for both GSH and GSSG and was quite specific for glutathione; and none of the manipulations appeared to influence the amount of glutathione present in the tissue. Results for GSH levels agreed well with earlier reports but levels of GSSG estimated here were higher than earlier reported values. The reasons for the apparently higher levels of GSSG are discussed.