Glutathione - Involvement in the antioxidant defense of the auditory system

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant low molecular weight thiol at the cellular level and is mostly located in the plasma membrane. GSH is one of the most important antioxidants in the human body and plays a important role against free radicals, specifically Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in systems that are subject to oxidative stress. However, this molecule does not act exclusively as an antioxidant agente, because it also has other func tions at the cellular level such as intervention in metabo lism and regulation. The association with the increase of oxidative stress and the metabolism of GSH, in the hair cells of the cochlea, has been related as one of the factors of hearing loss due to exposure to high sound levels. How ever, it is important to see if the mechanisms to increase the concentration of this substance contribute to prevent the death of the hair cells and, consequently, prevent hearing loss. There are two types of cell death: necrosis and apoptosis. Necrosis is usually induced by a noxious agent and apoptosis - or programmed cell death - is an active mechanism that plays a role in regulating the amount of cells in the body. Oxidative stress is one of the intracel lular stimuli that can lead to its activation of the mechanism of apoptosis.