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N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates Copper Overload-Induced Oxidative Injury in Brain of Rat

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Abstract

Copper is an integral part of many important enzymes involved in a number of vital biological processes. Even though it is essential to life, at elevated tissue concentrations, copper can become toxic to cells. Recent studies have reported oxidative damage due to copper in various tissues. Considering the vulnerability of the brain to oxidative stress, this study was undertaken to explore possible beneficial antioxidant effects of N-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress induced by copper overload in brain tissue of rats. Thirty-two Wistar rats were equally divided into four groups. The first group was used as control. The second, third, and fourth groups were given 1 g/L copper in their drinking water for 1 month. At the end of this period, the group 2 rats were sacrificed. During the next 2 weeks, the rats in group 3 were injected intraperitoneally with physiological saline and those in group 4 with 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal injections of N-acetylcysteine. In group 2 the lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels were increased in the brain cortex while the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the concentration of glutathione were decreased. In rats treated with N-acetylcysteine, lipid peroxidation decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzyme improved in the brain cortex. In conclusion, treatment with N-acetylcysteine modulated the antioxidant redox system and reduced brain oxidative stress induced by copper.

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Acknowledgment

DÖ formulated the present hypothesis. MN was responsible for writing the report. HU was responsible for analysis of the data. Authors wish to thanks Dr. Manuel Flores-Arce, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Tijuana Institute of Technology, Tijuana, Mexico for his scientific comments on the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest and financial support in the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, TR-34303, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey

    Dervis Özcelik

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hafize Uzun

  3. Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Mustafa Nazıroglu

Authors
  1. Dervis Özcelik
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  2. Hafize Uzun
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  3. Mustafa Nazıroglu
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Correspondence to Dervis Özcelik.

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Özcelik, D., Uzun, H. & Nazıroglu, M. N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates Copper Overload-Induced Oxidative Injury in Brain of Rat. Biol Trace Elem Res 147, 292–298 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9320-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9320-1

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