N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in rats

• Published in: Actas urológicas españolas (English ed.) Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 210 - 215
• Main Authors: İnci, M.F, Şalk, İ, Solak, O, Vurdem, Ü.E, İnci, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier España 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Contrast induced nephropathy; Contrast medium; Medio de contraste; N-acetilcisteína; N-acetylcysteine; Nefropatía inducida por contraste; Nefrotoxicidad; Nephrotoxicity; Urology; Nefropatía inducida por contraste; N-acetilcisteína; Medio de contraste; Nefrotoxicidad; Contrast medium; Contrast induced nephropathy; Nephrotoxicity; N-acetylcysteine
• ISSN: 2173-5786; 2173-5786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.acuroe.2012.07.008

Abstract Objective To date, there is no effective treatment of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has yielded some promising results recently in the prevention of CIN. In this study, the structural effects of NAC on CIN were analyzed. Material and methods Forty adult Wistar albino male rats were randomly allocated to four groups. The first group was the control group ( n = 9) which received only distilled water; the second group was the contrast group ( n = 10) which received CM; the third group was the contrast plus NAC group ( n = 8) which received CM and was treated with NAC; and the last group was NAC group ( n = 10) which received only NAC. At the end of the 3rd day, the right and left kidneys were removed and reserved for histopathological examination. All tissue sections were examined with light microscope looking for histopathological changes by the same experienced renal pathologist, without knowledge of the prior treatment. Histopathological examination was conducted in a blinded fashion, and glomerular injury scores, arteriolar injury scores and tubulointerstitial injury scores were calculated. Results There was a significant difference among the scores of glomerular injury, arteriolar injury and tubulointerstitial injury in all groups ( p < 0.05). The scores of glomerular, arteriolar and tubulointerstitial injuries of the groups 1 and 4 were not significantly different from each other ( p < 0.05). Renal injury scores in group 3 were higher than in groups 1 and 4, but significantly lower than the scores of the group 2 ( p < 0.05). Conclusion NAC could be useful to prevent the renal tissue from CIN, especially in high-risk patients.