The effects of N-acetylcysteine on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine NAC on the injury of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.


METHODS
Forty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 6 groups: as control, ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion, ischemia + N-acetylcysteine, ischemia-reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine (IRN), and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine (RN). Histopathologic examination was performed to all groups. In the tissue and plasma, and erythrocyte samples, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and nitric oxide NO levels were evaluated. The present study was carried out in Trakya and Istanbul University, Edirne, Turkey between December 2002 and July 2003.


RESULTS
The most severe histopathological damage was seen in the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group, and this damage was observed to be reduced by NAC administration. Lowest plasma malondialdehyde levels were observed in RN group. The tissue glutathione levels were found to be higher in RN group than those in IRN group.


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that administration of NAC has important effects on the injury of intestinal ischemia, as well as, reperfusion in rats. N-acetylcysteine administration causes an improvement in the histopathologic findings of ischemia/reperfusion damages. The N-acetylcysteine treatment protects the antioxidant enzymes in the tissue, plasma, and the erythrocytes, which are crucially important in the intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
Ayvaz
Suleyman
S
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Aksu
Burhan
B
Inan
Mustafa
M
Uzun
Hafize
H
Aydin
Seval
S
Bilgi
Selcuk
S
Umit
Hasan C
HC
Pul
Mehmet
M
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000111:Acetylcysteine