title: N-acetylcysteine Prevents Kidney and Lung Disturbances in Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most common causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) is kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). The distant organ injury such as acute lung injury is one of the side effects of AKI or kidney IRI. In this study, we performed bilateral renal IRI in rats and the protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in kidney and lung was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats (n = 30) were randomly assigned to four experiment groups. The group 1 was assigned as sham-operated group. Before kidney IRI performance, the others groups were treated with saline (group 2), 150 mg/kg (group 3) or 500 mg/kg (group 4) of NAC, and the treatment were continued daily after IRI for next 3 days. At day 3, the all groups' animals were subjected for the measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) in the control group increased significantly (P < 0.05), and administration of NAC (150 mg/kg) decreased the serum levels of Cr and BUN. However, only the serum level of Cr decreased significantly (P < 0.05). NAC did not improve kidney weight and damage; however, its low dose (150 mg/kg) attenuated the lung injury score (P < 0.05) when compared with the control group. No significant differences were observed in lung water content and endothelial permeability, serum levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low dose of NAC as a protectant agent may protect the kidney function and lung tissue damage after kidney IRI.
authors: Water & Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Biochemistry, Isfahan University of Payame-Noor, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Azarkish
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Nematbakhsh
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Fazilati
authors: Ardeshir
authors: A
authors: Talebi
authors: Ali Asghar
authors: AA
authors: Pilehvarian
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Pezeshki
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Moeini
authors: Azam
authors: A
authors: Mansouri
authors: Tahereh
authors: T
authors: Safari
keywords: Kidney; NAC; lung endothelial permeability; lung water content; rat; renal IRI