title: The effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in isolated hepatocytes, against the toxicity of paracetamol, acrolein, and paraquat.
abstract: The protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against the toxicity of paracetamol, acrolein, and paraquat was investigated using isolated hepatocytes as the experimental system. N-acetylcysteine protects against paracetamol toxicity by acting as a precursor for intracellular glutathione. N-acetylcysteine protects against acrolein toxicity by providing a source of sulfhydryl groups, and is effective without prior conversion. Paraquat toxicity can be decreased by coincubating the cells with N-acetylcysteine, but the mechanism for the protective effect is not as clear in this instance. It is probable that N-acetylcysteine protects against paraquat toxicity by helping to maintain intracellular glutathione levels.
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000096:Acetone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000171:Acrolein / Q000633:toxicity*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000633:toxicity*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008298:Maleates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000596:Amino Acids; D008298:Maleates; D000096:Acetone; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000171:Acrolein; C014476:diethyl maleate; D005978:Glutathione; D010269:Paraquat; D000111:Acetylcysteine; D010634:Phenobarbital