title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury after 30% hepatectomy in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine in liver remnant after hepatectomy associated to ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male adult BALB/c mice, weighing 20-22 g were used. Animals were anesthetized with ketamine (70 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg); received N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg, H-IR-NAC group) or vehicle (H-IR group). Surgical procedures were performed under 10X magnification. Partial hepatectomy (30%) was followed by ischemia-reperfusion injury (30 minutes of ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion). Blood sample and liver tissue were removed before animal was euthanized. AST and ALT were evaluated in blood samples and histomorphological analyses were performed in remnant liver. Groups were compared by Mann-Whitney test, and it was considered significant when p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biochemical evaluations showed reduced levels of ALT in NAC group (H-IR-NAC=376 ± 127 U/l vs H-IR=636 ± 39 U/l, p=0.023). AST was similar (p=0.456). H-IR group showed hepatic tissue with preserved architecture, large area of steatosis, vascular congestion and rare mitogenic activity. NAC group showed hepatic tissue with small area of steatosis, vascular congestion and elevated mitogenic activity, evidenced by increased binuclear cells (H-IR-NAC=15.88 ± 0.52 vs H-IR=7.4 ± 0.37, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  N-acetylcysteine promotes enzymatic and morphological protection against hepatectomy and ischemia-reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Operative Technique and Experimental Surgery, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edwin Jin Su
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sonia Maria da
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Manuel de Jesus
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Edna Frasson de Souza
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Montero
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000111:Acetylcysteine