Ceramide has been identified as a putative lipid messenger that mediates diverse cellular
processes including cell death. Since glutathione (GSH) depletion is known to sensitize cells
to many cytotoxic agents and as a result of the reported regulation of neutral
sphyngomyelinase (NSMase) by GSH, the present study compared the role of individual
SMases in the induction of oxidative stress, regulation of cellular GSH, and apoptosis of rat
hepatocytes. Exposure of cultured rat hepatocytes to exogenous Bacillus cereus …