Liver ischemia-reperfusion is known to be associated with free radical-mediated hepatocellular damage but alterations in hepatocellular fluid flux under these conditions are incompletely understood. Deficiency of the antioxidant glutathione, which increases the liver's susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury, may exacerbate pathological fluid shifts. This study examined alterations in hepatic fluid dynamics during liver ischemia-reperfusion in glutathione-deficient and glutathione-replete rats. Normal and glutathione-deficient rats underwent liver ischemia-reperfusion. Changes in hepatic extra- and intracellular fluid were monitored by calculating extra- and intracellular conductance from liver multifrequency bioelectrical impedance measurements. Liver malonyl dialdehyde content and plasma transaminase concentrations were measured and correlated with changes in hepatic impedance. Hepatic extracellular conductance decreased during ischemia and returned toward baseline values during reperfusion in a similar fashion in both study groups. Intracellular conductance increased during ischemia in both groups and continued to rise during the initial phase of reperfusion before falling toward normal. Glutathione-deficient rats had a significantly higher intracellular conductance during early reperfusion compared to controls. Glutathione-depleted rats also had higher serum transaminases and liver malonyl dialdehyde content following reperfusion. Intracellular and extracellular conductance were significantly correlated with hepatic malonyl dialdehyde content. We conclude that (1) liver ischemia-reperfusion results in movement of fluid from the extracellular to intracellular space with hepatocellular swelling; (2) glutathione deficiency accentuates hepatocyte swelling following ischemia-reperfusion; and (3) changes in extra- and intracellular fluid are related to the severity of membrane damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)