Abstract
Immunohisto-cytochemical localization of glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PO) in adrenocortical cells was studied on rats treated with aminoglutethimide (Elipten), which blocks the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone, and 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine (4-APP), which increases the adrenocortical cholesterol synthesis. In a normal untreated group, GSH-PO was observed immunohistochemically in zonae fasciculata and reticularis and intracellular localization of GSH-PO was observed not only in cytosol but in mitochondria. In Elipten treated group, immunohistochemically, GSH-PO was mainly observed in lipid accumulated zona fasciculata. And intracellular localization of GSH-PO was mainly observed in cytosol near the electron dense lipid droplets. Intensity of immunocytochemical staining of GSH-PO was stronger than that in the normal untreated group. However, number of GSH-PO positive mitochondria was less than that in the normal untreated group. In 4-APP treated group, immunohistochemical localization of GSH-PO was mainly observed in inner fasciculata-reticularis and intracellular localization of GSH-PO was mostly observed in cytosol near the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
These findings may suggest that GSH-PO plays an important role in prevention of damage to mitochondrial and microsomal components with lipid peroxidation.
