N-acetylcysteine in intestinal reperfusion injury: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine on intestinal reperfusion injury.

METHODS

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 10): sham, sham + N-acetylcysteine, reperfusion, and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine. Thirty minutes of ischaemia +/- 30 min of reperfusion was performed under 100 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine or placebo, administered 30 min before the operation in the groups where appropriate. Ileum samples were resected for histopathologic evaluation and tissue malondialdehyde and super oxide dismutase level determination.

RESULTS

The mean mucosal injury score and malondialdehyde level of the reperfusion and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine groups were significantly higher than that of the control and control + N-acetylcysteine group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Mean super oxide dismutase level of the control + N-acetylcysteine group was significantly higher than that of the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

N-Acetylcysteine did not prevent intestinal reperfusion injury by means of histopathologic findings and malondialdehyde level.