title: Neuroprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine in neurons exposed to arachidonic acid during simulated ischemia in vitro.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess neuroprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 100-200 microM) on cultured cortical neurons exposed to arachidonic acid (AA, 10 microM) during ischemia (oxygen-glucose deprivation). Ischemic conditions decreased neuron viability to 41-47% of normoxic controls; co-exposure with arachidonic acid further attenuated neuron viability to 36.73% after 24 h. Separate exposure to arachidonic acid in normoxia or to ischemic conditions only, increased the number of apoptotic nuclei to 33.56% or 36.78%, respectively. Combined exposure to arachidonic acid and ischemia increased apoptosis frequency to 62.20%. NAC (200 microM) decreased the number of apoptotic nuclei in normoxia in control and arachidonic acid exposed cells. NAC also decreased apoptosis frequency in ischemia to 14%. In neurons exposed to arachidonic acid and ischemic conditions, 100 and 200 microM NAC reduced apoptosis to 24.99% and 19.48%, respectively. NAC provided protection to neurons from toxicity due to arachidonic acid, ischemia and exposure to arachidonic acid in ischemic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Kościelna 13, PL 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pawlas
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Małecki
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine