Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effect of glutathione(GSH) on lead induced modulation of nitric oxide(NO) synthesis, and to examine how lead modulates NO production in macrophages. METHODS: This study was observed in a culture of RAW 264.7 cells, which originated from a tumor in a Balb/c mouse that was induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. The compounds investigated were lead chloride, N-acetyl-cystein(NAC), and Buthionine Sulfoximine(BSO). RESUJLTS: ATP synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells was unchanged by each lead concentration exposure in a dose dependent manner. The NO synthesis was decreased when exposed to lead(PbCl2) concentration 0.5 micro M. The presence of 300 micro M NAC, used as a pretreatment in the culture medium, caused the recovery of the lead induced decrease in NO synthesis, but in the presence of 300 micro M BSO as a pretreatment, there was no recoverey. Pretreatment with NAC and BSO had no affect on ATP synthesis at any of the lead concentrations used. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that GSH has a protective effect toward lead toxicity, and suggested that the inhibition of NO production in macrophage due to lead toxicity may be related to cofactors of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase)

• Keywords: Glutathione;Lead;Buthionine sulfoximine;N-acetylcysteine;Nitric oxide