N-acetylcysteine attenuates bacterial translocation after partial hepatectomy in rats.
BACKGROUND
Translocating enteric bacteria have been suggested as playing a major role in the development of infections after partial hepatectomy. We investigated the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on bacterial translocation (BT) and intestinal mucosa as the first line of defense against BT.


METHODS
We compared four groups of eight Sprague-Dawley male rats each: sham, control (partially hepatectomized), partial hepatectomy plus preoperative single-dose NAC, and a fourth that received partial hepatectomy with a preoperative single-dose NAC plus treatment with NAC for 2 days. Microorganism counts of tissues, lung injury score, lung tissue glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels and microscopy of intestinal mucosa were studied at the end of 48 h.


RESULTS
Microorganism count in the lung and mesenteric lymph node cultures and lung injury score were significantly higher in the control group when compared with the sham, third, and fourth groups (lung: 9919.6 versus 0.0, 2912.9, 1550.0 cfu/g tissue; mesenteric lymph nodes: 8458.3 versus 0.0, 89.0, 88.9 cfu/g tissue; lung injury score: 3.25 versus 0.5, 1.13, 1.75). In the control group, the villous height of the distal ileal mucosa was significantly shorter than the sham group (65.25 versus 75.25 microm) and the difference from groups 3 and 4 was not statistically significant. Neutrophil infiltration in the distal ileal mucosa of the control group was significantly higher than the sham, third and fourth groups (3.13 versus 0.25, 0.38 and 1.0).


CONCLUSIONS
The parenteral use of NAC attenuates bacterial translocation after partial hepatectomy in rats. Attenuation of the lung injury after partial hepatectomy in NAC-treated groups might be attributable to both anti-inflammatory effect and the effect on BT.
Okay
Erdem
E
Department of General Surgery, Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Derince/Kocaeli, Turkey.
Karadenizli
Aynur
A
Müezzinoglu
Bahar
B
Zeybek
Umit
U
Arzu Ergen
H
H
Isbir
Turgay
T
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000975:Antioxidants; D000111:Acetylcysteine