BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF N-ACETYL CYSTEINE ON PANCREAS AND KIDNEY FOLLOWING EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATIC ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION IN RATS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on the pancreas and kidney after pancreatic ischemia reperfusion injury in a rat model. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Pancreatic ischemia reperfusion was performed in Wistar rats for 1 hour. Revascularization was achieved followed by 4 h of reperfusion. A total of 24 animals were divided into four groups: Group 1: sham; Group 2: pancreatic ischemia reperfusion without treatment; Group 3: pancreatic ischemia reperfusion plus N-acetyl cysteine intravenously; and Group 4: pancreatic ischemia reperfusion plus N-acetyl cysteine per os. Blood and tissue samples were collected after reperfusion. RESULTS: There were significant differences in amylase levels between Group 1 (6.11 +/- 0.55) and Group 2 (10.30 +/- 0.50) [p=0.0002] as well as between Group 2 (10.30 +/- 0.50) and Group 4 (7.82 +/- 0.38) [p=0.003]; creatinine levels between Group 1 (0.52 +/- 0.07) and Group 2 (0.77 +/- 0.18) [p= 0.035] as well as between Group 2 (0.77 +/- 0.18) and Group 3 (0.48 +/- 0.13) [p=0.012]; and pancreatic tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels between Group 1 (1.27 +/- 0.96) and Group 2 (2.60 +/- 3.01) [p=0.026] as well as between Group 2 (2.60 +/- 3.01) and Group 4 (0.52 +/- 0.56) [p=0.002]. A decrease in pancreatic tissue GST-alpha 3 gene expression was observed in Group 2 in comparison to Group 1 (p =0.006), and an increase was observed in Groups 3 and 4 when compared to Group 2 (p=0.025 and p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that N-acetyl cysteine has a beneficial effect on pancreatic ischemia reperfusion injury and renal function in a rat model.