title: N-acetylcysteine protects against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rat hepatocytes.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known hepatotoxic environmental pollutant. We used rat hepatocytes as a model to study oxidative damage induced by Cd, effects on the antioxidant systems, and the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in protecting cells against Cd toxicity. Hepatocytes were incubated for 12 and 24 h with Cd (2.5, 5, 10 µM). Results showed that Cd can induce cytotoxicity: 10 µM resulted in 36.2% mortality after 12 h and 47.8% after 24 h. Lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities increased. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation increased in Cd-treated hepatocytes along with malondialdehyde levels. Glutathione concentrations significantly decreased after treatment with Cd for 12 h but increased after 24 h of Cd exposure. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased after treatment with Cd for 12 h but decreased after 24 h. superoxide dismutase and catalase activities increased at 12 h and 24 h. glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities decreased, but not significantly. Rat hepatocytes incubated with NAC and Cd simultaneously had significantly increased viability and decreased Cd-induced ROS generation. Our results suggested that Cd induces ROS generation that leads to oxidative stress. Moreover, NAC protects rat hepatocytes from cytotoxicity associated with Cd.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
authors.forename: Jicang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xuezhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zongping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002104:Cadmium; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: cadmium; hepatocytes; oxidative stress; rat