Table 4 Total GSH, GSSG, ratio of GSSG/total GSH and MDA in the lung of mice at 14 days after exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles by pharyngeal aspiration

Total glutathione

(GSH + GSSG, nmol / g lung tissue)

Wild type

Nrf2^−/−

47.9 ± 6.5

42.9 ± 10.4

41.4 ± 7.3

44.9 ± 7.5

45.4 ± 7.8

51.5 ± 5.2

−0.041 (p = 0.71)

0.29 (p = 0.032)

0.11 (p = 0.22)

0.78 (p = 0.48)

Glutathione disulfide (GSSG, nmol / g lung tissue)

Wild type

Nrf2^−/−

5.8 ± 2.6

8.0 ± 2.2

5.1 ± 1.1

8.2 ± 2.0

6.2 ± 2.2

4.9 ± 2.0*

0.020 (p = 0.52)

− 0.11 (p = 0.0036)

–

–

Ratio of GSSG/GSH (×10⁻¹)

Wild type

Nrf2^−/−

1.48 ± 0.37

2.37 ± 0.67

1.45 ± 0.30

2.22 ± 4.41

1.62 ± 0.67

1.08 ± 0.54*

0.00052(p = 0.47)

−0.0045 (p < 0.0001)

–

–

MDA

(nmol / mg protein)

Wild type

Nrf2^−/−

2.34 ± 0.37

1.42 ± 0.18

2.27 ± 0.27

1.38 ± 0.47

1.27 ± 0.19*

1.97 ± 0.67

−0.038 (p < 0.0001)

0.020 (p = 0.019)

–

–