Abstract
The protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against the toxicity of paracetamol, acrolein, and paraquat was investigated using isolated hepatocytes as the experimental system. N-acetylcysteine protects against paracetamol toxicity by acting as a precursor for intracellular glutathione. N-acetylcysteine protects against acrolein toxicity by providing a source of sulfhydryl groups, and is effective without prior conversion. Paraquat toxicity can be decreased by coincubating the cells with N-acetylcysteine, but the mechanism for the protective effect is not as clear in this instance. It is probable that N-acetylcysteine protects against paraquat toxicity by helping to maintain intracellular glutathinone levels.
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Dawson, J.R., Norbeck, K., Anundi, I. et al. The effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in isolated hepatocytes, against the toxicity of paracetamol, acrolein, and paraquat. Arch Toxicol 55, 11–15 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316579
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316579