Chromatograms of reduced plasma thiols. Thiols are numbered: 1, cysteine (Cys); 2, glutathione (GSH); 3, homocysteine (Hcy); and 4, penicillamine (PA). The retention times were: 3.55 (Cys), 5.0 (GSH), 5.74 (Hcy) and 6.5 minutes (PA). (a) Model solution (Cys and GSH, 6.5 µmol/l; Hcy, 1.25 µmol/l; and PA; 2.5 µmol/l); (b) control rat blood plasma (Cys, 9.5 µmol/l; GSH, 5.4 µmol/l; Hcy, 0.33 µmol/l); (c) plasma after BCAO (Cys, 1.8 µmol/l; GSH, 0.94 µmol/l; Hcy, 0.1 µmol/l); (d) plasma after MCAO (Cys, 0.35 µmol/l; GSH, 0.12 µmol/l; Hcy, 0.05 µmol/l).