Study on Antagonism of GSH and Taurine to Acute Oxidative Damage Induced by Mercury

Objective To study the antagonism of glutathione(GSH) and taurine on acute oxidative damage caused by mercury(Hg). Methods 32 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The rats of control group were given 0.9% saline by subcutaneous injections. The rats in mercuric chloride (HgCl2) group were subcutaneously injected with 2.5 mg/kg HgCl2. Rats of the other two groups were pretreated with 3 mmol/kg GSH and 4 mmol/kg taurine, respectively and two hours later injected subcutaneously with 2.5 mg/kg HgCl2. Urine creatine and mercury contents were determined; mercury level, contents of GSH, MDA and GSH-Px in liver and kidney were evaluated. Results Compared with the control, urine mercury level, level of mercury in liver and in the renal cortex, contents of GSH, MDA and GSH-Px in kidney in the group treated with 2.5 mg/kg HgCl2 were significantly increased. In the rats pretreated with GSH and taurine, contents of MDA in kidney were significantly decreased compared with those treated with mercury only. The levels of GSH-Px in kidney in the group pretreated with GSH and taurine were significantly higher than that not only in the mercury group but also in the control. Compared with the mercury group, levels of mercury in urine and liver in GSH pretreated group were distinctly reduced. Conclusion Pretreated with GSH and taurine have certain protection for the acute oxidative damage caused by mercury.