N-acetylcysteine can attenuate liver injury in obstructive jaundice in rats
H. Hakan Mersin, Murat Akbaba, Emel Başkan, Uğur Berberoğlu
Ankara Onkoloji Hastanesi, 2. Genel Cerrahi Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the level of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) and liver parenchyma injury in an experimental rat model of obstructive jaundice.
Patients and Methods: Thirty-six Wistar-Albino rats weighing 250- 300 g were randomly divided into three groups of 12 animals in each, as sham-operated, bile duct ligated plus NAC-treated (treatment), bile duct ligated plus saline administered (control). After the operation, the rats in treatment and control groups were administered NAC and saline, respectively. After 10 days of treatment, liver function tests were performed and plasma TNF-a levels were determined in all rats to assess the parenchymal damage.
Results: Parenchymal damage and plasma TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the treatment group, compared with the control group.
Conclusion: NAC can be useful in decreasing the paranchymal damage in the liver and suppress the plasma TNF-α levels in experimental obstructive jaundice.
Keywords: Obstructive jaundice, n-acetylcysteine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha