title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and vitamin E on jaundice-induced brain oxidative stress in rats.
abstract: We examined the possible protective effect of certain antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and vitamin E) against the oxidative stress of brain tissue induced by experimental obstructive jaundice in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups; group I control, group II sham operated, group III bile duct ligated and groups IV, V, and VI in which the rats, after bile duct ligation, were given every day an intraperitoneal injection with N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and Vit-E respectively. All rats were sacrificed on the tenth day by exsanguination and the oxidative state in samples from cortex, midbrain and cerebellum was assessed by measuring the thiol redox state and lipid peroxidation quantified by MDA measurements. The main finding was that all three antioxidants decrease lipid peroxidation in the three brain areas. Cysteine levels increased and protein thiol levels were reserved only in the group treated with N-acetylcysteine, whereas oxidized glutathione increased dramatically in the group treated with allopurinol, suggesting that each antioxidant agent had a certain influence profile on the different antioxidant defense systems. The observed effects of the antioxidants in this experimental model could also provide insight into some aspects of jaundice-induced hepatic encephalopathy in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karageorgos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patsoukis
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chroni
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konstantinou
authors.forename: Stelios F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014810:Vitamin E; D000493:Allopurinol; D003545:Cysteine; D000111:Acetylcysteine