Possible role of blood insulin levels on glutathione S-transferase activities from different tissues of male rats

The activity of in vitro glutathione S-transferase towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was examined in liver, renal cortex, and small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) after the in vivo treatment of male Wistar rats with streptozotocin or alloxan. The studies were performed at 2, 10, 24, and 48 h and 7 and 15 days after streptozotocin treatment or 24 and 48 h after alloxan treatment. The results indicated that while the blood levels of insulin-glucose did not show variations, there were no alterations of the glutathione S-transferase activity in the tissues tested. On the other hand, when the treatments caused modifications on blood insulin-glucose levels, there were changes of glutathione S-transferase activity in all tissues (except in the ileum) in such a way that a direct relationship between plasma insulin levels and glutathione S-transferase activity could be demonstrated. These results were also confirmed through insulin administration to control and diabetic rats. The data demonstrate a possible regulation of glutathione S-transferase activity by blood insulin and (or) glucose levels in the tissues tested.