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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2007; 13(38): 5127-5132
Published online Oct 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i38.5127
N-acetylcysteine attenuates oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Duangporn Thong-Ngam, Suchittra Samuhasaneeto, Onanong Kulaputana, Naruemon Klaikeaw
Duangporn Thong-Ngam, Suchittra Samuhasaneeto, Onanong Kulaputana, Naruemon Klaikeaw, Department of Physiology; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Grant of Ratchadapisek Somphok, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Correspondence to: Duangporn Thong-Ngam, MD, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. thongngam007@yahoo.com
Telephone: +66-2-2564267 Fax: +66-2-2564267
Received: May 17, 2007
Revised: August 3, 2007
Accepted: August 26, 2007
Published online: October 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate attenuating properties of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (control, n = 8) was free accessed to regular dry rat chow (RC) for 6 wk. Group 2 (NASH, n = 8) was fed with 100% fat diet for 6 wk. Group 3 (NASH + NAC20, n = 9) was fed with 100% fat diet plus 20 mg/kg per day of NAC orally for 6 wk. All rats were sacrificed to collect blood and liver samples at the end of the study.

RESULTS: The levels of total glutathione (GSH) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly in the NASH group as compared with the control group (GSH; 2066.7 ± 93.2 vs 1337.5 ± 31.5 μmol/L and MDA; 209.9± 43.9 vs 3.8 ±1.7 μmol/g protein, respectively, P < 0.05). Liver histopathology from group 2 showed moderate to severe macrovesicular steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and necroinflammation. NAC treatment improved the level of GSH (1394.8 ± 81.2 μmol/L, P < 0.05), it did not affect MDA (150.1 ± 27.0 μmol/g protein), but led to a decrease in fat deposition and necroinflammation.

CONCLUSION: NAC treatment could attenuate oxidative stress and improve liver histology in rats with NASH.

Keywords: N-acetylcysteine; Oxidative stress; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis