N-acetylcysteine attenuates alcohol-induced oxidative stess in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate free-radical scavenger effect of n-acetylcysteine in rats intragastrically fed with ethanol.


METHODS
Twenty-four rats divided into three groups were fed with ethanol (6 g/kg/day, Group 1), ethanol and n-acetylcysteine (1 g/kg, Group 2), or isocaloric dextrose (control group, Group 3) for 4 weeks. Then animals were sacrificed under ether anesthesia, and intracardiac blood and liver tissues were obtained. Measurements were made in both serum and homogenized liver tissues. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was measured by TBARS method. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were studied by commercial kits. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
ALT and AST in Group 1 (154 U/L and 302 U/L, respectively) were higher than those in Group 2 (94 U/L and 155 U/L) and Group 3 (99 U/L and 168 U/L) (P=0.001 for both). Serum and tissue levels of MDA in Group 1 (1.84 nmol/mL and 96 nmol/100 mg-protein) were higher than that in Group 2 (0.91 nmol/mL and 64 nmol/100 mg protein) and Group 3 (0.94 nmol/mL and 49 nmol/100 mg-protein) (P<0.001 for both). On the other hand, serum GSH-Px level in Group 1 (8.21 U/g Hb) was lower than that in Group 2 (16 U/g Hb) and Group 3 (16 U/g-Hb) (P<0.001). Serum and liver tissue levels of SOD in Group 1 (11 U/mL and 26 U/100 mg-protein) were lower than that in Group 2 (18 U/mL and 60 U/100 mg protein) and Group 3 (20 U/mL and 60 U/100 mg-protein) (P<0.001 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol-induced liver damage was associated with oxidative stress, and co-administration of n-acetylcysteine attenuates this damage effectively in rat model.
Ozaras
Resat
R
Altimermer Cad. 27/4, Kucukhamam, TR-34303 Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. rozaras@yahoo.com
Tahan
Veysel
V
Aydin
Seval
S
Uzun
Hafize
H
Kaya
Safiye
S
Senturk
Hakan
H
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine