title: Impact of N-acetylcysteine and sesame oil on lipid metabolism and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis homeostasis in middle-aged hypercholesterolemic mice.
abstract: Hyperlipidemia and stress are important factors affecting cardiovascular health in middle-aged individuals. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and sesame oil on the lipidemic status, liver architecture and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of middle-aged mice fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. We randomized 36 middle-aged C57bl/6 mice into 6 groups: a control group, a cholesterol/cholic acid diet group, a cholesterol/cholic acid diet group with NAC supplementation, a cholesterol/cholic acid diet enriched with 10% sesame oil and two groups receiving a control diet enriched with NAC or sesame oil. NAC administration prevented the onset of the disturbed lipid profile, exhibiting decreased lipid peroxidation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, restored nitric oxide bioavailability and reduced hepatic damage, compared to non-supplemented groups. High-cholesterol feeding resulted in increased hypothalamic glucocorticoid receptors (GR) levels, while NAC supplementation prevented this effect. NAC supplementation presented significant antioxidant capacity by means of preventing serum lipid status alterations, hepatic damage, and HPA axis disturbance due to high-cholesterol feeding in middle-aged mice. These findings suggest a beneficial preventive action of plant-derived antioxidants, such as NAC, on lipid metabolism and on the HPA axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Laskarina-Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Korou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Athens School of Medicine, Mikras Asias 75str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agrogiannis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Athens School of Medicine, Mikras Asias 75str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koros
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Thivon 2str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthimia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kitraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzanetakou
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece [2] Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Agiou Thoma 17str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pergialiotis
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Agiou Thoma 17str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research 'N.S. Christeas', Athens School of Medicine, Agiou Thoma 15Bstr., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D012715:Sesame Oil; D000111:Acetylcysteine