HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

The effect of N-acetyl cysteine on serum glutathione

Study Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Nacetyl cysteine (NAC) on the levels of reactive oxygen species in sepsis.

METHODS:
In this study, 30 Sprague-Dawley female rats weighing 180- 200 g were used. Rats were randomized into three groups, each containing 10 rats, as follows: Group I: Sham, Group II: Sepsis and Group III: Sepsis+NAC. Group I underwent only laparotomy. In Groups II and III, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) technique. NAC (20 mg/kg/ day) was administered orally to Group III at 0, 8 and 16 hours. At the 24th hour, tissue and blood samples were taken for erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-? levels, histopathological determination, and lung, liver and kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses.

RESULTS:
Group III was significantly different from the other groups with respect to erythrocyte glutathione, serum TNF-? and kidney MDA levels (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding liver MDA levels and histopathological parameters for lung, liver and kidney (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION:
NAC treatment had beneficial effects on erythrocyte GSH, serum TNF-?, lung function, and kidney MDA levels in sepsis-induced rats. However, this beneficial effect was not confirmed as histopathological improvement. Further research is needed to prove the effect of NAC in sepsis treatment.

Study Information

Gül M, Ayan M, Seydanoğlu A, Cander B, Girişgin S, Erayman I, Erdem S.
The effect of N-acetyl cysteine on serum glutathione, TNF-? and tissue malondialdehyde levels in the treatment of sepsis.
Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg.
2011 July
Department of Emergency Medicine, Selçuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.