Source

Department of Biochemistry,Basic Medical Science Building, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 (India).

Abstract

Oxidative stress caused by ammonia toxicity is known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) supplementation in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced model of HE. Three weeks after BDL, rats developed biliary fibrosis which was supported by liver function tests, ammonia levels and hydroxyproline content. Impaired cognitive and motor functions were observed along with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain of BDL rats. Cerebral cortex and cerebellum of BDL animals showed an increase in lipid peroxidation, reduction in total and non-protein thiols along with reduction in antioxidant enzymes. Histopathological examination of cortex and cerebellum of BDL rats showed astrocytic swelling, inflammation, necrosis and white matter edema. One week after BDL surgery, animals administered with NAC at a daily dose 100mg/kg for 2 weeks, showed significant improvement in the activity of liver marker enzymes in serum and restored structural morphology of liver. NAC was able to ameliorate spatial memory and motor coordination deficits observed in BDL rats. NAC supplementation decreased lipid peroxidation and was also able to restore the activity of antioxidant enzymes as well as structural deficits observed in the cortex and cerebellum of BDL animals. The results clearly demonstrate that the protective effect of NAC in experimental model of HE is mediated through attenuation of oxidative stress, suggesting a therapeutic role for NAC in individuals with HE.