RESUMO
The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (Ig/kg body weight in saline for 7 days) against the damages induced by gamma ray was studied. Whole body exposure of rats to gamma-rays (3.5 Gy) caused increases in lipid peroxides (P < 0.01). Reduced glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.01) and total sulphydryl groups (TSH) (P < 0.05), were found to be increased probably to counteract the damages produced by the lipid peroxides. The plasma antioxidant vitamins E, C and A were reduced. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were enhanced, which might be to eliminate the superoxide radical and H2O2 and accompanied by a fall in glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. The excessive production of free radicals and lipid peroxides might have caused the leakage of cytosolic enzymes such as aminotransferases (AST and ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and phosphatases. Membrane damage is quite evident from histological studies undertaken in the intestinal tissue, which is susceptible to radiation damage. Intragastric pretreatment of NAC (1g/kg body weight in saline for 7 days) prevented the radiation induced damage to an appreciable extent. From the results it may be concluded that NAC is effective in protecting from the damages caused by gamma-ray radiations and its prospects as an adjuvant to radiotherapy should be considered.
Assuntos
Acetilcisteína/farmacologia , Animais , Ácido Ascórbico/sangue , Catalase/sangue , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Creatina Quinase/sangue , Citosol/metabolismo , Radicais Livres , Raios gama , Glutationa/metabolismo , Glutationa Peroxidase/sangue , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/farmacologia , Intestinos/efeitos dos fármacos , L-Lactato Desidrogenase/sangue , Peroxidação de Lipídeos , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Reagentes de Sulfidrila/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/sangue , Fatores de Tempo , Transaminases/sangue , Vitamina A/sangue , Vitamina E/sangueRESUMO
Eighty patients from Chennai Medical College (patients with bronchogenic carcinoma) and from Tambaram Tuberculosis Hospital (patients with non-malignant pulmonary diseases mainly tuberculosis) in whom the etiologic diagnosis of their pleural effusions are confirmed were included in the study. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of antioxidant enzymes were estimated in pleural exudates of the two groups. Lipid peroxidation was found to be increased and the status of antioxidants were found to be decreased in lung malignant pleural exudates when compared to those of non-malignant effusions. The possible reasons for the observed results discussed.