The Perturbation of Hepatic Glutathione by {alpha}2-Adrenergic Agonists

The Perturbation of Hepatic Glutathione by ₂ -Adrenergic Agonists.James, Robert C, Roberts, Stephen M. and Harbison, Raymond D.(1983). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.. 3: 303–308. Single injectionsof epinephrine significantly lowered the hepatocellular levelsof reduced glutathione (GSH) while producing small but significantelevations in serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity.Hormones, i.e. glucagon and the corticosteroids, were also foundto depress significantly hepatic glutathione. Based upon theagonist-antagonist studies performed, the hepatic GSH loweringeffects of epinephrine appear to be mediated solely by ₂ receptors.Adrenergic antagonists with ₂ receptor blocking properties,phenotolamine and yohimbine, prevented the epinephrine-inducedlowering of GSH while agonists with ₂ activity, clonidine andguanabenz, mimicked epinephrine's response. Antagonists witheither ₁or ß activity, i.e. prazosin, phenoxybenzamineand propranolol, did not prevent the epinephrine-induced loweringof hepatic GSH. Contrary to these findings antagonists witheither or P receptor blocking activity significantly reducedthe epinephrine-induced elevations in SGPT activity. Thus, therewas no apparent relationship between the elevation of SGPT activityand the reduction in hepatic glutathione levels. It is concludedthat the therapeutic administration of these compounds, or physiologicresponses to stress or pain, may exacerbate the hepatotoxicityof compounds detoxified by GSH or alter important glutathione-mediatedhepatocellular processes.