Protective Role Of N-acetylcysteine Research Articles

Effects of AraC treatment on motor coordination and cerebellar cytoarchitecture in the adult rat: A possible protective role of NAC

Intact cerebellum cytoarchitecture and cellular communication are indispensable for successful motor coordination and certain forms of memory. Cytosine arabinoside (AraC), often used as an anti-neoplastic agent in humans, can have cerebellum-targeting adverse effects. In order to characterize the nature of AraC-induced cerebellar lesions in an adult rodent model, we have administered AraC (400 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) in adult male Wistar rats for 5 days. The animals’ walking pattern, motor coordination, locomotion, spatial navigation and cognition were evaluated, along with neurofilament- and calbindin-like distribution in the cerebellum. AraC-treated rats demonstrated a disturbed walking pattern and a reduced ability of motor learning and coordination, indicative of a mild cerebellar deficit. Although the general locomotion and spatial cognition of AraC-treated rats was not significantly altered, their navigation into the water, in terms of swimming velocity, was irregular, compared to vehicle-treated animals. Neurofilament-like immunostaining was reduced in the molecular cerebellar layer, while calbindin D 28 kDa levels were increased in Purkinje neurons, following AraC treatment. Administration of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (200 mg/kg b.w., p.o.), for 14 days (prior to and during AraC treatment) largely prevented the AraC-induced behavioral deficits. Our in vivo model of neurotoxicity provides data on the AraC-induced behavioral and cellular alterations concerning the adult rat cerebellum. Furthermore, it provides evidence of a possible neuroprophylactic role of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in this model of chemotherapy-induced toxicity.

Protective role of N-acetylcysteine against alcohol and paracetamol induced toxicity

The effect of administration of N-acetylcysteine on ethanol and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity was studied both biochemically and histopathologically in experimental rats. The liver samples taken after twentyfour hours from the paracetamol administered normal and alcoholic animals showed high degree of necrosis and related pathological changes. In the N-acetylcysteine treated alcoholic rats and in the N-acetylcysteine pretreated paracetamol administered rats, the liver cells showed very little change and appeared almost normal as evidenced by the histopathological studies. The activities of serum transaminases and phosphatases were also high both in the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered animals. N-acetylcysteine treated animals partly restored the serum transaminase and phosphatase activities, and the activities of the antiperoxidative enzymes. There was also significant change in the serum and tissue lipid levels, and in the concentration of the tissue lipid peroxidation product-malondialdehyde in both the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered groups. N-acetylcysteine treatment brought the serum and tissue lipid levels, and the tissue malondialdehyde content towards normal.