[Determination of the N-acetylcysteine and methionine effects in the cerebellum of rats intoxicated with lead].
A therapeutic essay was done to determine the effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), Methionine (MET) and the NAC + MET combination on the lead (Pb) blood levels, the malondialdehide (MDA) and catalase activity (CAT) in cerebellum of rats treated with 0.5 and 2 microg/g of Pb acetate. One hundred ninety eight male Wistar rats with an average weight of 240 g were subjected to a test, divided into five groups. Group 1 was the control group where basal levels were determined; Group 2 was the treated group; the rest of the groups once treated received the following: Group 3 NAC, Group 4 MET, Group 5 NAC + MET. The results showed that NAC lowers blood lead levels by 35% and 38% with intoxication doses of 0.5 microg/g and 2 microg/g of Pb acetate respectively. This decrease was not statistically significant; however, there was a 56% decrease of MDA in the cerebellum with a dose of 0.5 microg/g of Pb and of 75% with 2 microg/g; CAT activity increased in the cerebellum by 62% and 71% with the studied Pb doses, making this a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) in relation to the intoxication group. MET has a similar effect to NAC, even though it was less strong; anyhow, when NAC + MET are combined a quelant effect is shown, with a statistically significant 45% and 51% reduction in the Pb levels with the doses administered (p < 0.001); MDA decreased and CAT activity increased in the cerebellum. In this research we can conclude that NAC+MET when combined, have a beneficial effect on the studied parameters during acute Pb treatment.
Unidad de Toxicología, Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. loveling04@cantv.net
Lourdes
L
Calderón-Cabrera
María Gabriela
MG
Durán-Galetta
Ingo
I
Garcia
Douglas
D
Galetta
Luis
L
Lacruz
Raquel
R
Naranjo
Beatriz
B
Pérez
Elizabeth
E
Ferreira
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007854:Lead; D008715:Methionine; D000111:Acetylcysteine