Reduced and Oxidized Glutathione Ratio in Tumor Cells: Comparison of Two Measurement Methods Using HPLC and Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

Two chromatographic methods for the assay of oxidized and reduced glutathione in cells have been compared in which GSH is either derivatized with OPA in an electrochemically active isoindole compound or directly measured using gold mercury amalgam electrodes specific for thiol. The first method requires a derivatization but gives efficient HPLC separation of the so-formed isoindole derivative, while in the other method, separation of the highly polar compounds requires an ion pairing eluent. Both methods allow measurement of the GSH/GSSG ratio in tumor cells.