title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine on rat dental pulp cells cultured on mineral trioxide aggregate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and its potential detoxification by an antioxidant amino acid, N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat dental pulp cells extracted from rat maxillary incisors were directly cultured on MTA with or without NAC in culture medium. The number of cells and their spreading behavior were both assessed 24 hours after seeding. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) were also assessed after 24 hours of culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of cells attached to MTA was 60% greater when NAC was added to the culture medium. In addition, the area and perimeter of the cells were found to be 2-fold greater in the culture containing NAC. Cells cultured on MTA alone showed large ROS concentrations, which disappeared when the medium was supplemented with NAC. The intracellular GSH level, however, increased 3.5-fold with NAC addition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the presence of NAC in environments can substantially improve attachment and spreading behaviors of dental pulp cells on MTA. This biological effect was associated with an improvement in the cellular redox system by NAC and warrants further exploration of NAC for determining its therapeutic value in improving the biocompatibility of MTA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry for Children and Disabled Persons, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. minamikawa1h@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minamikawa
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deyama
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaga
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yawaka
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003124:Colorimetry; D003470:Culture Media; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017640:Silicates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D000975:Antioxidants; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010087:Oxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine