title: Dual behavior of N-acetylcysteine during ethanol-induced oxidative stress in embryonic chick brains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ethanol (EtOH) causes oxidative stress in embryos. Because N-acetylcysteine (NAC) failures and successes in ameliorating EtOH-induced oxidative stress have been reported, the objective was to determine if exogenous NAC ameliorated EtOH-induced oxidative stress within embryonic chick brains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Control eggs were injected with approximately 25 µl of water on day 0, 1, and 2 of development (E0-2). Experimental eggs were injected with dosages of either 3.0 mmol EtOH/kg egg; 747 µmol NAC/kg egg; 3.0 mmol EtOH and 747 µmol NAC/kg egg; 1000 µmol NAC/kg egg; or 3.0 mmol EtOH and 1000 µmol NAC/kg during the first 3 days of development (E0-2). At 11 days of development (E11; late embryogenesis), brains were harvested and subsequently assayed for oxidative stress markers including the loss of long-chain membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides (LPO); decreased glutathione (GSH) and glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels; and decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EtOH (3 mmol/kg egg), medium NAC (747 µmol/kg egg), and EtOH and medium NAC promoted oxidative stress. These treatments caused decreased brain membrane long-chain PUFAs; increased LPO levels; decreased GSH levels and GSH/GSSG levels; and decreased Se-dependent GPx activities. High NAC dosages (1000 µmol/kg egg) attenuated EtOH-induced oxidative stress within EtOH and high NAC-treated chick brains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exogenous EtOH and/or medium NAC propagated oxidative stress. Meanwhile, high NAC ameliorated EtOH-induced oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: a Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine , Erie , PA 16509 , USA.
authors.forename: Alison K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4477-9899
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: b Michigan State University College of Human Medicine , East Lansing , USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1393-6484
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: c Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine , Downers Grove , IL 60515 , USA.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ladzinski
authors.affiliation: d School of Dentistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , USA.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5648-3783
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenhart Sherman
authors.affiliation: e College of Medicine , University of Rochester , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4038-6011
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Maddock
authors.affiliation: f Biology Department , Hillsdale College , MI 49242 , USA.
authors.forename: Zoe M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Norr
authors.affiliation: f Biology Department , Hillsdale College , MI 49242 , USA.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9890-0231
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D000431:Ethanol; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Ethanol; Fatty acids; Glutathione peroxidase; Lipid hydroperoxides; N-acetylcysteine