title: Influence of N-acetylcysteine against dimethylnitrosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: This study evaluates the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats. A single intraperitoneal dose of DMN (5 mg/kg b.w.) caused a significant increase in the levels of the serum marker enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT)) and a subsequent decrease in AST, ALT, ALP and increase in LDH and γ-GT in the liver tissue indicating hepatocellular damage. Elevation in the status of lipid peroxidation, fall in the activities of the enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and non-enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E) in the liver tissue further confirms oxidative stress and hepatocellular damage induced on DMN administration. Oral administration of NAC (50 mg/kg b.w.) for 7 days significantly prevented the above alterations in the status of the marker enzymes of hepatotoxicity and antioxidant parameters and restored them towards normalcy, which was further substantiated by the histopathological studies of the liver tissue. These results suggest that NAC offers hepatoprotection by ameliorating DMN-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity and this protective effect was attributed to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Environmental Toxicology, Dr. A.L.M. Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sathish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priya
authors.forename: Paramasivan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayalakshmi
authors.forename: Palani
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vivekanandan
authors.forename: Sivanesan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D000111:Acetylcysteine