Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and its 2-amino-2-thiazoline salt (NACAT) as potential chemopreventive agents on experimentally induced lung tumours by urethane (U) in mice. Female BALB/c mice were used. U was given by intraperitoneal injections during 2 weeks (single dose - 10 mg/mouse, total - 50 mg/mouse). Mice were treated daily per os with NAC 1/10 LD50, NACAT 1/10 or 1/100 LD50 starting 2 weeks prior U administration, then during U treatment and thereafter for 2 months. The duration of experiment was 4 months. The results showed that NAC (1000 mg/kg) reduced the lung tumour incidence to 30% that of controls, P · 0.05. Most effective of NACAT was 100 mg/kg dose; it reduced an average of lung adenomas per mouse by 26%, P · 0.05, but lower dose (10 mg/kg) was less effective. In order to achieve similar chemopreventive effect (~30%) on mice, it is necessary to use 0.38 mM/kg of NACAT or 6.13 mM/kg of NAC. It means that 16 times less of NACAT is required, if calculated by molar concentration. In general, NAC and NACAT have a moderate chemopreventive effect on lung tumorigenesis induced by urethane in mice.
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Šimkevičienė, V., Straukas, J. & Uleckienė, S. N-Acetil-L-Cysteine and 2-Amino-2-Thiazoline N-Acetyl-L-Cysteinate as a Possible Cancer Chemopreventive Agents in Murine Models. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 53, 293–298 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.53.2002.3.5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.53.2002.3.5