Glutathione depletion: Starting point of brain metabolic stress, neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in rats

The acquisition of a new spatial condition 24 h after GSH depletion revealed differences between experimental groups for latencies, swim distance, swim distance in the target quadrant and percentage of total swim distance spending in the target quadrant. The ability of BSO treated group to maintain a restraining behavior was significantly smaller compared with control group. We founded significant correlation among variables of the behavioral studies and oxidative stress indicators. In conclusion, our model shows how increased ROS production by transitory glutathione depletion constitutes the primary cause to neuronal metabolic stress with alterations in synaptic signaling and cognitive deficits.