EJMI. 2019; 3(3): 219-226 | DOI: 10.14744/ejmi.2019.42299

The Protective Effect of N-acetylcysteine Against Methotrexate-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat

Tuba Demirci¹, Semin Gedikli², Nurinnisa Ozturk³, Nevra Aydemir Celep^2
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey Department of Histology and Embryology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey Department of Histology and Embryology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey, ²Department of Histology and Embryology, Ataturk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey, ³Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the probably curable effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on Methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity as biochemically and histopathologically. Methods: For this purpose 24 male rats were divided into four groups as; control, MTX, NAC+MTX and NAC groups. Control and MTX groups were given 0.09% NaCl solution for 7 days; and MTX group was administrated single dose MTX at fourth day, additionally. NAC+MTX and NAC groups were given NAC during 7 days; and NAC+MTX group was applied single dose MTX at fourth day. On the eighth day, rats were sacrificed, blood samples and livers were taken. Results: According to biochemical analysis results, NAC caused a reduction in the MTX-induced increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzymes. Histopathologically, cytoplasmic swelling-vacuolization, sinusoidal dilatation and congestion seen in the MTX group were decreased with NAC administration. Although abundant lipid droplets were found in the sections stained with Oil Red O of MTX, NAC usage decreased this situation to the minimum level. While NAC given with MTX decreased Bax immunopositivity, it increased Bcl-2 immunopositivity. Also, TUNEL-positive cells were less in NAC+MTX group according to MTX group. Conclusion: Findings obtained in the current study suggest that NAC may be effective on the MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, histopathology, methotrexate, n-acetylcysteine, TUNEL

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Demirci T, Gedikli S, Ozturk N, Aydemir Celep N. The Protective Effect of N-acetylcysteine Against Methotrexate-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat. EJMI. 2019; 3(3): 219-226

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