Oral N-acetylcysteine or S-carboxymethylcysteine inhibit cigarette smoke-induced hypersecretion of mucus in rat larynx and trachea in situ.
Two weeks exposure of rats to cigarette smoke (CS) significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the secretion of fucose-containing glycoconjugates above normal in an in situ preparation of larynx and trachea. After equilibration mean basal secretion in CS-exposed rats was 24 micrograms (per 30 min collection) which was 8 times higher than that of unexposed animals (p less than 0.01). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or S-carboxymethylcysteine (SCMC) given as 1% of the drinking water, before and after daily exposure to CS, significantly inhibited the development of the CS-induced increase in fucose secretion reducing the mean for basal secretion in each group to 7 and 5 micrograms, respectively (p less than 0.05). Neither NAC nor SCMC had significant effects on baseline glycoconjugate secretion in control animals. Albumin was inconsistently present in the secretions of both control and CS-exposed animals, whereas in those exposed to CS and also given one of the two cysteine derivatives there was a consistent increase in albumin transudation.
Rogers
D F
DF
Dept of Lung Pathology, National Heart & Lung Institute, Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
Turner
N C
NC
Marriott
C
C
Jeffery
P K
PK
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002233:Carbocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005643:Fucose / Q000032:analysis; D006601:Hexoses / Q000032:analysis; D007830:Larynx / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014026:Nicotiana; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D006601:Hexoses; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012906:Smoke; D005643:Fucose; D002233:Carbocysteine; D003545:Cysteine; D000111:Acetylcysteine