The paraquat-induced liver injury in rats and the protective effect of antioxidative drugs on it

Objective To study the mechanism of paraquat leading to liver injury and the protective effect of glutathione(GSH) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC) on it.Methods Thirty-three SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: paraquat exposure group,GSH treatment group,NAC treatment group and normal control group.Gastric perfused with paraquat 100 mg/kg once,two treatment groups were exposed to GSH 100 mg/kg,NAC 150 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection in half an hour before and after gastric perfusion and continuing 7 days.To detect the levels of ALT,AST,the vitality of SOD and GSH-PX,MDA content,rats were sacrificed to obtain blood and liver samples in the day 1,3,7.Results The levels of plasma and liver homogenate ALT,AST increased obviously compared with control group at first day(P0.05).But the levels of liver enzymes and MDA decreased in NAC and GSH treatment groups compared with PQ group(P0.05).The SOD and GSH-PX vitality decreased in all groups compared with normal control group(P0.05).But both improved in NAC and GSH group compared with PQ group.In the end of experiment,the levels of liver enzymes and MDA decreased in NAC and GSH treatment groups compared with PQ group(P0.05),and the SOD and GSH-PX vitality increased strikingly compared with PQ group(P0.05).NAC was superior to GSH for improving some indicators.Conclusion Oxidative stress played a important role in PQ-induced liver injury and NAC and GSH can improve the hepatic antioxidant ability.