1. [Determination of the N-acetylcysteine and methionine effects in the cerebellum of rats intoxicated with lead].
- Author
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Calderón-Cabrera L, Durán-Galetta MG, Garcia I, Galetta D, Lacruz L, Naranjo R, Pérez B, and Ferreira E
- Subjects
- Acetylcysteine pharmacology, Animals, Lead blood, Lead Poisoning blood, Male, Methionine pharmacology, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Acetylcysteine therapeutic use, Cerebellum drug effects, Lead Poisoning drug therapy, Methionine therapeutic use
- Abstract
A therapeutic essay was done to determine the effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), Methionine (MET) and the NAC + MET combination on the lead (Pb) blood levels, the malondialdehide (MDA) and catalase activity (CAT) in cerebellum of rats treated with 0.5 and 2 microg/g of Pb acetate. One hundred ninety eight male Wistar rats with an average weight of 240 g were subjected to a test, divided into five groups. Group 1 was the control group where basal levels were determined; Group 2 was the treated group; the rest of the groups once treated received the following: Group 3 NAC, Group 4 MET, Group 5 NAC + MET. The results showed that NAC lowers blood lead levels by 35% and 38% with intoxication doses of 0.5 microg/g and 2 microg/g of Pb acetate respectively. This decrease was not statistically significant; however, there was a 56% decrease of MDA in the cerebellum with a dose of 0.5 microg/g of Pb and of 75% with 2 microg/g; CAT activity increased in the cerebellum by 62% and 71% with the studied Pb doses, making this a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) in relation to the intoxication group. MET has a similar effect to NAC, even though it was less strong; anyhow, when NAC + MET are combined a quelant effect is shown, with a statistically significant 45% and 51% reduction in the Pb levels with the doses administered (p < 0.001); MDA decreased and CAT activity increased in the cerebellum. In this research we can conclude that NAC+MET when combined, have a beneficial effect on the studied parameters during acute Pb treatment.
- Published
- 2008