ABSTRACT
Oxidative stress down regulates antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase [SOD] and contributes to the development of cardiac hypertrophy. N-Acetyl cysteine [NAC] can enhance the SOD activity, so the aim of this study is to highlight the inhibitory role of NAC against endothelin-1 [ET-1]-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In this experimental study at QAU from January, 2013 to March, 2013. ET-1 [50 microg/kg] and NAC [50 mg/kg] were given intraperitoneally to 6-day old neonatal rats in combination or alone. All rats were sacrificed 15 days after the final injection. Histological analysis was carried out to observe the effects caused by both drugs. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] analysis and SOD assay were also carried out. Expression level of hypertrophic marker, brain natriuretic peptide [BNP], was detected by western blotting. Our findings showed that ET-1-induced cardiac hypertrophy leading towards heart failure was due to the imbalance of different parameters including free radical-induced oxidative stress and antioxidative enzymes such as SOD. Furthermore NAC acted as an antioxidant and played inhibitory role against ROS-dependent hypertrophy via regulatory role of SOD as a result of oxidative response associated with hypertrophy. ET-1-induced hypertrophic response is associated with increased ROS production and decreased SOD level, while NAC plays a role against free radicals-induced oxidative stress via SOD regulation