Reduced and oxidized forms of glutathione and alpha-tocopherol in the cerebrospinal fluid of parkinsonian patients: comparison between before and after L-dopa treatment

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Jan 16;184(1):21-4. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(94)11158-f.

Abstract

In the cerebrospinal fluid of untreated patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) were unaltered but the concentration of oxidized glutathione (glutathione disulfide, GSSG) (P < 0.001), the GSSG/GSH ratio (P < 0.06), alpha-tocopherol quinone (alpha-TQ) (P < 0.001), and the alpha-TQ/alpha-TOH ratio (P < 0.01) were reduced significantly. In L-dopa-treated patients, the concentrations of GSH, GSSG, and the alpha-TQ concentration and the alpha-TQ/alpha-TOH ratio (P < 0.05) increased compared with untreated PD patients. These results suggest that oxidation of GSH and alpha-TOH is decreased in untreated PD patients, but is activated to a control level or more after L-dopa treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Glutathione / analogs & derivatives
  • Glutathione / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Disulfide
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / pharmacology
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Vitamin E / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Vitamin E / metabolism

Substances

  • Vitamin E
  • Levodopa
  • Glutathione
  • Glutathione Disulfide