The effect of N-acetylcysteine use in high-fat diet-exposed pregnant rats on glucose metabolism and oxidative status in dams and their offspring.

Maternal obesity has been associated with an increased risk of oxidative and metabolic disorders in offspring later in life. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a potent antioxidant, on obesity-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and impaired glucose metabolism in an experimental rat model. Maternal obesity was induced in female rats by administering a high-fat diet (HFD) (60% kcal from fat). NAC was given via intragastric gavage at a dose of 150 mg/kg. Female rats were mated at 12 weeks of age, and the respective diets were maintained throughout gestation and lactation. The experiment was concluded on postnatal day 28, at which point the offspring's blood samples and liver tissues were collected for analysis. Following standard histological processing, immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect oxidative markers in liver tissue sections. In the HFD + NAC group, NAC supplementation ameliorated histological damage in both mothers and offspring's liver tissues. NAC treatment reduced 8-OHdG expression in the HFD + NAC group, indicating a protective effect against oxidative stress. NAC also had a modulatory effect on oxidative stress markers such as total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, PON1, ARES and malondialdehyde. HFD induces hepatic injury and oxidative stress in both dams and their offspring, contributing to impaired metabolic programming. Maternal NAC supplementation partially ameliorated these effects by reducing oxidative damage and improving glucose metabolism. However, its protective effects were limited, particularly in restoring antioxidant enzyme activity and fully normalizing metabolic parameters.