The effect of usage of n-acetylcysteine on hepatic healing in rats which underwent experimental blunt hepatic trauma

Objective: Nowadays, blunt liver injury is increasingly preferred to be managed non-operatively. Therefore, wound heal progressing agents are widely investigated. N Acetyl Systein (NAC), which has antioxidant effect, is an amino aside derivate and a glutathione precursor as well. Aim of this study is to investigate the effect of NAC at liver injured bluntly. Materials and Methods: A total of 6 groups to be sham, NAC intraperitoneally (IP), and NAC intramuscular (IM) administrated 6 rats in each group. These groups were separated for day 3 (Sham-3, IM-3 and İP-3) and day 7 (Sham-7, IM-7 and IP-7) terminations. Blunt liver injury was performed by a simple fall of a 200 gr weight. The dosage of NAC was 50mg/kg and 200mg/kg for intramuscular and intraperitoneal pathways respectively. Histopathological assessment was done by scoring inflammation severity between 0-3, apoptosis index(AI) by the method of tunnel and Ki-67 proliferation index (PI). Results: AST and ALT levels were less in the seventh day groups than that of the third day groups. This decrease was significant in Sham-7 and IM-7 groups. Among the same day groups, AST, ALT and LDH levels were significantly low in IM and IP groups according to the Sham groups (p=0.01, p=0.004, respectively). However, there was no evident difference between IM and IP groups (p>0.05). Inflammation severity did not differ between the day 3 and 7 groups. But, it was significantly low in IM and IP groups compared to the Sham-3 (p=0.010, p=0.049, respectively). Day 7 groups also showed difference. Ki-67 PI?s of the IM-3 and IP-3 groups were prominently higher than that of the IM-7 and IP-7 groups (p<0.001, p=0.005, respectively). Ki-67 PI?s of the Sham-3, IM-3 and IP-3 groups were the differences between these groups were definite (p= 0.001 - 0.038). AI, the seventh day of the third day, groups, IM and IP groups did not differerences significantly (P> 0.05). AI groups' of the Sham-3, IM-3 groups were the differences between these groups were definite. Seventh-day AI groups, a significant differences between the sham group was higher in IM. Conclusion: The NAC seems to decrease the AST, ALT levels and inflammation severity and to increase cellular proliferation. However, further studies are required.