N-acetylcysteine attenuates oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

AIM: To evaluate attenuating properties of N-acetylcysteine (NAQ 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 I (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. Ail 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 mu mol/L and MDA; 209.9 +/- 43.9 vs 3.8 +/- 1.7 mu mol/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 mu mol/, P < 0.05), it did not affect MDA (150.1 +/- 27.0 mu mol/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. (c) 2007 WJG. All rights reserved.