Important role of glutathione in protecting against menadione-induced cytotoxicity in rat platelets

Our previous studies demonstrate that menadione (MEN) is cytotoxic to platelets of rats by depleting glutathione (GSH). In order to clarify whether GSH has a role in protecting against menadione-induced cytotoxicity, the effect of GSH depletors as well as GSH precusors on menadione-induced cytotoxicity was investigated. Cysteine and dithiothreitol (DTT) prevent MEN-induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by LDH leakage and change in turbidity. When platelets were treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CNDB) and diethylmaleate (DEM), both of which deplete intracellular GSH, MEN-induced cytotoxicity was potentiated in the CDNB-treated platelets, but not in the DEM-treated platelets. These data suggest that the GSH in platelets plays an important role in protecting against cytotoxicity induced by menadione.