title: Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on triamcinolone acetonide-induced lens damage in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship of cataract forming effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection with oxidative status and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on these alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six Wistar-Albino rats were included in the study. Rats were assigned into four groups as follows: intravitreal saline injection group (controls); IVTA injection group; IVTA + intraperitoneal NAC injection group (IVTA + NAC); and intraperitoneal NAC injection group (NAC). Triamcinolone acetonide was intravitreally injected at a dose of 1 mg. NAC was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 150 µg/g body weight. Animals were sacrificed and lens specimens were analyzed for levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) and activities of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the MDA and PC levels of lenses were increased in the IVTA group (p < 0.01). It was seen that GSH and GSH-Px in lenses were decreased in the IVTA group (p < 0.01). NAC administration significantly ameliorated these changes in the IVTA + NAC group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the NAC produces a protective mechanism against IVTA-induced cataract and suggest a role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology .
authors.forename: Esra Ayhan
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tuzcu
authors.forename: Kasim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tuzcu
authors.forename: Fatmagul
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basarslan
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motor
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Ugurcan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayintap
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oksuz
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Cataract; N-acetylcysteine; intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection; oxidative status