BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on the hepatic ischemia injury. METHODS: Thirty eight male EPM-1 Wistar rats were divided in four groups: G1 and G2 with ischemia time of 30 min.; groups 3 and 4 were submitted to 30 min of ischemia and bile duct was not clamped. Animals from groups 2 and 4 received NAC, 150mg.Kg-1 bw, by IV injection, 15 min. before procedure. Blood samples were collected before and after ischemia and liver function was evaluated by enzymatic measurement. Hepatic samples were processed to GSH/GSSG, light and electronic microscopy evaluation. Non-parametric tests were applied to the statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Enzymatic increase were higher when NAC was absent. There was no protection by NAC when bile duct was absent nor when bile duct was not clamped. Under light microscopy there was significant difference in the groups S/NAC X C/NAC, showing that group C/NAC maintained better parenchyma architecture during ischemia time, independent on bile duct clamp. Under electronic microscopy, the groups C/NAC and those without bile duct clamping showed preserved cellular arquitecture. NAC did not alter the relationship between reduced glutathione / oxidated gluthatione (GSH/GSSG). CONCLUSION: NAC is able to protect hepatic parenquime during normothermic ischemia and we purpose that such mechanism is related to a direct reaction of NAC with nitric oxide (NO).
Acetylcysteine; Ischemia; Liver; Rats, Wistar
