title: N-acetylcysteine ameliorates γ-radiation-induced deterioration of bone quality in the rat femur.
abstract: This animal study evaluated the radioprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and amifostine on the biomechanical properties of bone in Wistar albino rats of both genders. The rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight: a control group (C); a group given a single  dose of 40 Gy of γ-irradiation (R); a group given γ-irradiation plus 200 mg/kg amifostine (R + amifostine); and a group given γ-irradiation plus 1000 mg/kg NAC (R + NAC). Extrinsic and intrinsic properties of bone, bone mineral density (BMD) and the cross-sectional area of  the femoral shaft were determined. The cross-sectional area was significantly higher in the R + NAC and R + amifostine groups compared with the R and C groups. The BMD, maximum load and stiffness were also significantly higher in the R + NAC and R + amifostine groups than in the R group, and  energy absorption capacity was higher in the R + NAC group than in the R group. These findings indicate that NAC and amifostine preserve bone quality in rats exposed to γ-irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, TR-27310 Gaziantep, Turkey. demirel@gantep.edu.tr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilciksiz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurgul
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erdal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008297:Male; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D000111:Acetylcysteine