In contrast, RC-fed Nrf2−/− livers contained smaller amounts of mRNA for Gclc and Gclm than their Nrf2+/+ counterparts, and also reduced levels of Gclc protein, with diminished or no increase following administration of the HF diet, suggesting that the basal expression of these genes is compromised in the mutant mice and that they mount a blunted antioxidant response. Here, GCLC is linked to hydrops fetalis.