Investigation of the effects of N-acetylcysteine on acrylamide-induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in rats

Investigation of the Effects of N-acetylcysteine on Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity in RatsHigh levels of acrylamide are genotoxic, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic in organisms. Acrylamide could occur in food during high temperature cooking and it can be taken up by humans via diet. Adverse effects of acrylamide on human body are completely not known when taken up via food chain. Therefore, dietary source of acrylamide could pose a great risk for public healthIn this study, it was aimed to investigate the possible toxic effects of orally administered acrylamide on the small and large intestines, blood and liver tissues in male Wistar rats as well as whether the injury induced by acrylamide could be prevented by N-acetylcysteine (NACForty male Wistar rats with the average weight of 250 g were divided into 4 equal groups as follows: Group 1 (control); animals in this group received normal diet. Group 2 (acrylamide); group 2 animals were given daily acrylamide at 25 mg/kg via oral gavage for 21 days. Group 3 (N-acetylcysteine); rats in group 3 were given daily N-acetylcysteine at 250 mg/kg via oral gavage for 21 days. Group 4 (acrylamide-N-acetylcysteine); animals in group 4 received daily acrylamide at 25 mg/kg and N-acetylcysteine at 250 mg/kg via oral gavage for 21 daysAt the end of 21 day-period, all rats were decapitated. Samples of small intestine, large intestine, blood, and liver were collected for histopathological examination as well as biochemical analyses to measure levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total protein, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activityWith respect to biochemical alterations in the treatment groups, tissue GSH levels (except large intestine) and GST activities in acrylamide group were significantly low (p<0.05), while these parameters in acrylamide+NAC group were normalized (p<0.05). Plasma, liver, small and large intestine MDA levels significantly increased in acrylamide group (p<0.05), whereas NAC treatment significantly reduced the MDA levels to the control values in rats treated with acrylamide (p<0.05Comet analysis of lymphocytes obtained from the blood samples of the groups showed that lymphocyte DNAs obtained from acrylamide group had severe injury, whereas the damage was minimal in acrylamide+NAC group.In histopathological examination, severe damage was observed especially in the small intestine and liver of acrylamide-treated group. However, the damage prominently reduced in acrylamide+NAC groupIn conclusion, acrylamide caused a decrease in GSH levels of all tissues studied. Acrylamide can not be detoxified in the liver due to decreased level of GSH, which in turn leads to the formation of genotoxic glycidamide. However, administration of N-acetylcysteine with acrylamide could prevent acrylamide-induced tissue alterations.Keywords: Rat, Acrylamide, N-acetylcysteine, Small Intestine, Liver, Oxidative stress, GSH, MDA, GST, Comet analysis, Histopathology.