N-acetylcysteine protects against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rat hepatocytes.
10.4142/jvs.2014.15.4.485
- Author:
Jicang WANG
1
;
Huali ZHU
;
Xuezhong LIU
;
Zongping LIU
Author Information
1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China. liuzongping@yzu.edu.cn
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
cadmium;
hepatocytes;
oxidative stress;
rat
- MeSH:
Acetylcysteine/*metabolism;
Animals;
Antioxidants/*metabolism;
Cadmium/*toxicity;
Cell Survival/drug effects;
Cells, Cultured;
Environmental Pollutants/*toxicity;
Hepatocytes/drug effects/metabolism;
*Oxidative Stress;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2014;15(4):485-493
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known hepatotoxic environmental pollutant. We used rat hepatocytes as a model to study oxidative damage induced by Cd, effects on the antioxidant systems, and the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in protecting cells against Cd toxicity. Hepatocytes were incubated for 12 and 24 h with Cd (2.5, 5, 10 microM). Results showed that Cd can induce cytotoxicity: 10 microM resulted in 36.2% mortality after 12 h and 47.8% after 24 h. Lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities increased. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation increased in Cd-treated hepatocytes along with malondialdehyde levels. Glutathione concentrations significantly decreased after treatment with Cd for 12 h but increased after 24 h of Cd exposure. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased after treatment with Cd for 12 h but decreased after 24 h. superoxide dismutase and catalase activities increased at 12 h and 24 h. glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities decreased, but not significantly. Rat hepatocytes incubated with NAC and Cd simultaneously had significantly increased viability and decreased Cd-induced ROS generation. Our results suggested that Cd induces ROS generation that leads to oxidative stress. Moreover, NAC protects rat hepatocytes from cytotoxicity associated with Cd.
