Effect of o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane on glutathione reductase activity and content of SH groups in the dog adrenals.

The effect of o, p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), a compound inducing atrophy of the adrenal cortex and blocking steroid production, on glutathione reductase activity was studied. As a result of feeding dogs with DDD in a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for 14 days activation of glutathione reducatase took place in the homogenate, cytoplasmic fraction, and disintergrated mitochondria of the adrenals. On the additon of DDD in vitro the activity of the enzyme was unchanged. The content of SH groups expressed per 100 mg tissue was reduced in the homogenate and in all subcellular fractions. If expressed per 100 mg protein in the level of SH groups was lowered only in the microsomes and the disintergrated mitochondria.