Sequential postnatal changes in erythrocyte glutathione and sulfhydryl content: a possible adaptational response to the extrauterine environment.

Glutathione is a key factor in intracellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. We postulated that it might modulate the adaptational response of the fetus to a higher oxygen environment after birth. Therefore, we determined total glutathione (GSH + GSSG) and non-protein sulfhydryl (-SH) content in cord blood RBC hemolysates, and sequential values in blood from the same infants for up to 72 h after birth.