Chem.-BioL Interactions, 70 (1989)29-37 29 Elsevier ScientificPublishers Ireland Ltd. Commentary CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE EFFECTS INDUCED BY GLUTATHIONE DEPLETION IN RAT LIVER AND HEART. THE INVOLVEMENT OF CYTOSOLIC AND MITOCHONDRIAL GLUTATHIONE POOLS FRANCISCO J. ROMERO* and JOAQUIN ROM.~ Departamento de Fisiologi~ Universitat de Val~nci~ Facultat de Medicina i Odontolegi~ A v. Blasco lba~ez, 17, E-~6010 Valencia (SpainJ (Received August 26th, 1988) (Revision received December 6th, 1988} (Accepted December 9th, 1988) SUMMARY One of the most widely used mechanisms by which the role of glutathione (GSH) in cellular functions has been withdrawn, is to deplete GSH intracellularly. The importance of the procedure and xenobiotic chosen to get it is discussed. Mitochondrial GSH plays certainly an important role in main- taining cellular homeostasis. This contribution varies depending on the tis- sue and the conclusions obtained about the functions of this GSH pool in one organ may not be applied to others. Original data on the subcellular distribu- tion of GSH in myocardial tissue of the rat are presented, and the effect of phorone on both cardiac GSH pools is compared with the effect in liver. The mechanical failure of myocardium after ischemic or reperfusion damage might involve mitochondrial GSH, in view of the literature data referring to the role of thiol groups in energy transfer from mitochondria to cytosol. Key words: Glutathione - Mitochondria -- Myocardium - Liver - Gluta- thione-depletion -- Oxidative protection INTRODUCTION The glutathione (GSH) redox cycle involving the glutathione peroxidase, along with superoxide dismutase, *To whomall correspondenceshould be addressed. 0009-2797/89/$03.50 © 1989Elsevier ScientificPublishers Ireland Ltd. Printed and Published in Ireland seleno-enzyme catalase and