Effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on hepatocellular glutathione levels in vitro and in vivo

Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with high concentration of beta-lactam antibiotics, cephaloridine (CER), flomoxef (FMOX) or cephamandole (CMD), resulted in significant reduction of cellular glutathione (GSH) levels, though cell viability was not affected during the incubation period. I.v. injection of a large dose, 300 mg/kg, of these beta-lactam antibiotics to rats did not affect the hepatic GSH levels. The concentration of beta-lactam antibiotics in the body fluid of the rats were found to be much lower than the amounts which causes GSH depletion in vitro.