N‐acetyl cysteine protects against injury in animal model of transient focal cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease (stroke) is one of the leading causes of death and long‐term disability worldwide (or developing countries). The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC), a precursor of glutathione, and a potent antioxidant, in tissue protection against transient focal cerebral ischemia model in rats. Our laboratory has already demonstrated the efficacy of NAC against induction of proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and production of NO in cultured cells. In this study, 250–300 g male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 45 min of reversible focal cerebral ischemia through middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The protective effect of NAC is supported by reduced infarct volume as well as the suppression of TNF‐α and iNOS in the treated animals. Pretreatment with NAC reduced the infarct size by 49.6% as compared to the saline treated group along with reducing the neurological evaluation score by more than 50%. Our results suggest that preadministration of NAC attenuates focal cerebral ischemia by protecting cells against free radical damage. Acknowledgements: Supported by NIH grants NS‐40144, NS‐40810, NS‐22576, NS‐34741 and NS‐37766.

<p>Evidence for a Beneficial Effect of Oral N-acetylcysteine on Functional Outcomes and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke</p>

“…47 Sekhon et al also in their study showed preadministration of NAC by protecting cells against free radical damage can attenuate focal cerebral ischemia in an animal model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. 48 Similar to these findings, results of another experimental study revealed administration of ceftriaxone (200 mg/kg) or NAC (150 mg/kg) for 5 days before focal cerebral ischemia by modulating of glutamate transporter expression and normalizing extracellular glutamate concentrations can significantly limit stroke-related damage and increase brain tolerance to ischemia. 49 In a similar vein, Cuzzocrea et al in an experimental study in Mongolian gerbils subjected to cerebral ischemia showed early treatment with NAC (20 mg/kg 30 min before reperfusion and 1, 2, and 6 h after reperfusion) can reduce brain injury induced by transient cerebral ischemia.…”