Abstract
To study the hepatic function of conjugation and excretion, the radioactivities (R.I.) of the BSP-GSH (BSP conjugated with glutathione) in the bile after intravenous administration of radioactive GSH (glutathione), cysteine or glycine to the rat were investigated. Especially by means of the double-labelling technique, we investigated the utilization of glutathione for BSP conjugation in the rat liver. When 35S-GSH and 14C-1C-glycine GSH were simultaneously administered i.v., 35S and 14C were incorporated into the BSP-GSH with the equal ratio to that of the injected GSH.
From these it is most likely that GSH is taken in the original form into the hepatic cells and utilized for conjugation.
3H-GSH (2C-glycine3H) and 3H-glycine (2C) induced lesser excretion of 3H incorporated into BSP-GSH in the bile than that when 35S-GSH or 14C-glycine (2C) was administered, i.e. the ratio of 35S/3H was 116.
Less 3H excretion shows that 3H compounds are easily metabolized after going through the hepatic cell wall.
