title: Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against gamma ray induced damages in rats--biochemical evaluations.
abstract: The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (Ig/kg body weight in saline for 7 days) against the damages induced by gamma ray was studied. Whole body exposure of rats to gamma-rays (3.5 Gy) caused increases in lipid peroxides (P < 0.01). Reduced glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.01) and total sulphydryl groups (TSH) (P < 0.05), were found to be increased probably to counteract the damages produced by the lipid peroxides. The plasma antioxidant vitamins E, C and A were reduced. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were enhanced, which might be to eliminate the superoxide radical and H2O2 and accompanied by a fall in glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. The excessive production of free radicals and lipid peroxides might have caused the leakage of cytosolic enzymes such as aminotransferases (AST and ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and phosphatases. Membrane damage is quite evident from histological studies undertaken in the intestinal tissue, which is susceptible to radiation damage. Intragastric pretreatment of NAC (1g/kg body weight in saline for 7 days) prevented the radiation induced damage to an appreciable extent. From the results it may be concluded that NAC is effective in protecting from the damages caused by gamma-ray radiations and its prospects as an adjuvant to radiotherapy should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shyamaladevi
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000637:Transaminases; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine