title: N-acetylcysteine abrogates acute lung injury induced by endotoxin.
abstract: 1. Acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome is a serious clinical problem with high mortality. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an anti-oxidant and a free radical scavenger. It has been reported recently that NAC ameliorates organ damage induced by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) in conscious rats. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of NAC on LPS-induced ALI and other changes in anaesthetized rats. 2. Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized with pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.). Endotracheal intubation was performed to provide artificial ventilation. Arterial pressure and heart rate were monitored. The extent of ALI was evaluated with the lung weight (LW)/bodyweight ratio, LW gain, exhaled nitric oxide (NO) and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (PCBAL). Haematocrit, white blood cells, plasma nitrate/nitrite, methyl guanidine (MG), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1b were measured. Pathological changes in the lung were examined and evaluated. 3. Endotoxaemia was produced by injection of 10 mg/kg, i.v., LPS (Escherichia coli). Animals were randomly divided into three groups. In the vehicle group, rats received an i.v. drip of physiological saline solution (PSS) at a rate of 0.3 mL/h. The LPS group received an i.v. drip of PSS for 1 h, followed by LPS (10 mg/kg by slow blous injection, i.v., over 1-2 min). Rats in the LPS + NAC group received NAC by i.v. drip at a rate of 150 mg/kg per h (0.3 mL/h) for 60 min starting 10 min before LPS administration (10 mg/kg by slow blous injection, i.v., over 1-2 min). Each group was observed for a period of 6 h. 4. N-Acetylcysteine treatment improved the LPS-induced hypotension and leukocytopenia. It also reduced the extent of ALI, as evidenced by reductions in LW changes, exhaled NO, PCBAL and lung pathology. In addition, NAC diminished the LPS-induced increases in nitrate/nitrite, MG, TNF-a and IL-1b. 5. In another series of experiments, LPS increased the mortality rate compared with the vehicle group (i.v. drip of PSS at a rate of 0.3 mL/h) during a 6 h observation period. N-Acetylcysteine, given 10 min prior to LPS, significantly increased the survival rate. 6. The results of the present study suggest that NAC exerts a protective effect on the LPS-induced ALI. The mechanisms of action may be mediated through the reduction of the production of NO, free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: School of Respiratory Therapy, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shang Jyh
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hen I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hsing I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D045853:Exhalation / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008760:Methylguanidine / Q000097:blood; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009566:Nitrates; D009570:Nitriles; D011506:Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008760:Methylguanidine; D000111:Acetylcysteine