Peter Edward Thelwall1, Daniel Clark2,
Susan M. Ludeman3, James B. Springer4, Michael A.
D'Alessandro3, Nicholas E. Simpson2, Roxana Pourdeyhimi5,
C. Bryce Johnson5, Stephanie D. Teeter5, Stephen J.
Blackband2, Michael P. Gamcsik5
1Newcastle Magnetic
Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear,
United Kingdom; 2University of Florida; 3Albany College
of Pharmacy & Health Sciences; 4Duke University Medical
Centre; 5Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of
North Carolina / NC State University
Glutathione is an endogenous antioxidant involved in protecting tissues from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a role in some neurodegenerative processes, and therapeutic strategies to combat brain oxidative stress have included raising glutathione concentration. OTZ is a cysteine precursor that can elevate glutathione levels in some tissues. We synthesised 13C-OTZ and tracked its uptake and metabolism in vivo using 13C MRS. The effect of OTZ on brain glutathione content was assessed, and the metabolic fate of 13C-OTZ elucidated from in vivo and ex vivo spectroscopy and mass spectrometry of rat brain.