The protective effect of NAC on methotrexate induced liver damage in rats: Light microscopic examination"

Aim: Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist. MTX, which is a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent and is used for in the threatment of several malignancies and various inflammatory diseas, is known that has hepatotoxic effects on liver. Acetylcysteine is an antioxidant material. Acetylcysteine rol of glutatyon synthesis in liver and lung and gives cysteine for abregulation glutatyon synthesis . The aim of this study is research of the NAC (N- Acetylcysteine) effects on liver damage which was occured by MTX on light microscobe.Material and Methots: For this aim male Wistar Albino rats were divided into control, MTX, MTX+NAC, NAC groups. At the end of ten days, rats livers were put into % 10 neutral tamponized formalin and inspected on light microscope.Findings: It was found that on the liver of rats which was given MTX, sinusoidal dilatation, hepatocytes degeneration, vascular congestion-trombosis, inflammatory infiltration on light microscope.Results: As a result of this study it was found that NAC may decrease liver damage, which was occured by MTX.Key Words:Methotrexate, NAC, light microscope, hepatotoxicity, rat.