The effect of ethyl pyruvate and N-acetylcysteine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental model of ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Reperfusion therapies play an important role in early-period treatment for patients presenting to the emergency department due to stroke. However, the ischemia-reperfusion injury that may occur with reperfusion must then be considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and ethyl pyruvate in preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury.


METHODS
This study is a randomized, controlled experimental study. In group 1, rats' left main carotid arteries were clamped. Reperfusion was established by releasing the clamp after 1.5 hours. In group 2, the left main carotid artery was clamped, and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal NAC was administered after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after NAC administration. In group 3, rats' left carotid arteries were clamped, and 50 mg/kg ethyl pyruvate was administered intraperitoneally after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after ethyl pyruvate administration. All tissue samples were collected 2.5 hours after reperfusion. Brain tissues were compared histopathologically.


RESULTS
A higher percentage of degenerative neurons was determined in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3 (P values: P(a) = .003 and P(c) = .003, respectively). A significant difference was also observed between groups 2 and 3 (P(b) = .003), with the percentage of degenerative neurons being lower in the NAC group than in the ethyl pyruvate group.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of NAC and ethyl pyruvate reduces injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion in an experimental animal model of acute ischemic stroke and subsequent reperfusion.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: drsuhaturkmen@hotmail.com.
Suha
S
Turkmen
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Ozgen
O
Cekic Gonenc
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Yunus
Y
Karaca
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Ahmet
A
Mentese
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Selim
S
Demir
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Ercument
E
Beyhun
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Aynur
A
Sahin
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Abdulkadir
A
Gunduz
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Esin
E
Yulug
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Suleyman
S
Turedi
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury; D020521:Stroke
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011773:Pyruvates; C046522:ethyl pyruvate; D000111:Acetylcysteine