title: A histological and immunohistochemical study of the effects of N-acetyl cysteine on retinopathy of prematurity by modifying insulin-like growth factor-1.
abstract: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder that occurs in premature infants and may lead to permanent visual impairment. We investigated both the possible protective role of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for preventing ROP and the role of IGF-1 in the disorder. Forty-five newborn rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 was raised in room air as controls. Group 2 was exposed to 60% oxygen for 14 days after birth, then transferred to room air. Group 3 was exposed to the same conditions as group 2, but received intraperitoneal injections of NAC on postnatal days 7-17. After 35 days, both eyes of all rats were processed for histology. Some sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to assess structural changes and other sections were immunostained to determine the location of IGF-1. Frozen sections also were prepared and stained for adenosine triphosphatase to detect retinal blood vessels. Compared to the controls, more blood vessels, many of which were abnormal, and increased IGF-1 expression were observed in group 2. In group 3, abnormal blood vessels and IGF-1 expression were less evident. NAC appeared to be an effective vascular-protective agent for ROP by decreasing IGF-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: a Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: El-Hadidy
authors.affiliation: a Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: El-Mohandes
authors.affiliation: a Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Asker
authors.affiliation: a Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine , Mansoura University , Mansoura , Egypt.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ghonaim
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: ATPase; N-acetyl cysteine; immunohistochemistry; insulin-like growth factor-1; neovascularization; retina; retinopathy of prematurity