Preventive effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against acute lung injury

AIM To observe the preventive effect of N acetyl L cysteine against acute lung injury. METHODS 24 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group ( n =8), injury group ( n =8), treatment group ( n =8). The injury group were endotoxin (1 mL· kg -1 ); the control group were given injection of normal saline (1 mL·kg -1 ), and the treatment group were given N acetyl L cysteine (300 mg·kg -1 ) 2 minutes before the injec tion of endotoxin (1 mL·kg -1 ) . Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO 2), pulmonary arterial pressure, the count of peripheral blood leukocytes, the NO 2 - concentration in the BALF, lung index (wet weight/body weight), lung's wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) were observed. RESULTS The pulmonary arterial pressure and NO 2 - concentration of the treatment group had significant difference with the injury group ( P 0.01), PaO 2 of the treatment group significantly improved ( P 0.01). The lung index and W/D ratio of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the injury group ( P 0.01), and the count of peripheral blood leukocytes of the treatment group was higher than that of the injury group ( P 0.01). CONCLUSION N acetyl L cysteine has preventive effect against acute lung injury.