Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis in Rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) on acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP) and its mechanism.Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomized into sham operation(SO) group,ANP group and NACtreated group.The model of ANP was induced by retro-grade injection of 4% sodium taurocholate(1 ml per 1 kg body weight) into the bili-pancreatic duct.NAC-treated group was given 5% NAC(2 ml/kg) intraperitoneally 30 min after inducing SAP.All the animals were sacrificed at 12 h after induction of pancreatitis.The histopathological changes of pancreatic tissue were evaluated.The levels of amylase(AMY),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),reduced glutathione hormone(GSH),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX),catalase(CAT) in serum,myeloperoxidase(MPO) in the pancreas and the expression of NF-κB in the pancreas were determined.Results: The histopathological changes of pancreatic tissue,the levels of AMY and MDA in serum,the activity of MPO and the expression of NF-κB in the pancreas were significantly increased in ANP group compared with those in SO group and NAC-treated group(all P0.01),however,the indexes were significantly decreased after the using NAC(P 0.01);the levels of GSH,GSH-PX and CAT in serum were significantly decreased in ANP group compared with those in SO group and NAC-treated group(P0.05),however,the indexes were significantly increased after applying NAC(P0.05),and no significant difference was found between ANP group and NAC-treated group(P0.05),but all indexes in both groups were lower than in SO group(all P0.01).Conclusion: NAC can restrain activated NF-κB,decrease pancreas leukocyte infiltration,and reduce the produce of the OFR and pancreas injury.NAC may have a therapeutic effect on ANP by eliminating oxygen free radicals.