Effect of NAC on hepatic fibrosis of mice with Schistosomiasis japonicum

Aim To study the effects of N-acetylcysteine on hepatic fibrosis of mice with Schistosomiasis japonicum.Methods 128 mice were randomly divided into normal group,infected group,prevented a group,prevented b group,treated a group and treated b group.The mice in the latter five groups were infected with 30 cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum.NAC solution were orally given to prevented a group and prevented b group,200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively,2 times/d from the day of infection,while treated a group and treated b group,200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively,2 times/d from the 42th day after the mice infected.The livers of the mice from normal group,infected group,prevented a group and prevented b group were collected at the end of the 42th day and the 56th day,while those of treated a group and treated b group were collected,embedded in paraffin,sectioned and stained by Van-Gieson-staining at the end of the 56th day.The areas of collagen fiber in sections were measured with computer image analysis software.The hydroxyproline(Hyp)content in hepatic tissue were all detected.Results The areas of collagen in hepatic tissue of prevented a group at the 42th day were smaller than those at the 56th day(P0.05),and smaller 46.67% than those of infected group(P0.05),those at the 56th day were smaller 53.12% than those of infected group(P0.05);the net decrement rate of the Hyp content in hepatic tissue at the 42th day and the 56th day were 67.58% and 31.34% respectively(P0.05).The areas of collagen in hepatic tissue of treated a group were smaller 28.12% than those of infected group(P0.05);the net decrement rate of the Hyp content in hepatic tissue of treated a group was 21.23%(P0.05).Curative effect of prevented b group and treated b group were not good.Conclusion The effect of retrading the hepatic fibrosis of mice with Schistosomiasis japonicum through using small dose of NAC to prevent the formation of the egg granuloma was the best.