N-ACETYLCYSTEINE PRETREATMENT ATTENUATES PARAQUAT-INDUCED LUNG LEAK IN RATS

We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pretreatment on paraquat-induced lung inflammation and leak, We found that administeri ng a single intravenous dose (60 mg/kg) of paraquat rapidly (2 h) incr eased lung leak, lung lavage cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattracta nt (CINC) levels, and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in rats, Rat s pretreated with NAC (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) had increased lun g tissue glutathione (GSH + GSSG) levels compared to saline-pretreated rats, In addition, rats pretreated with NAC and then given paraquat 2 .5 h later had decreased lung leak compared to saline-pretreated rats given paraquat, In contrast, NAC pretreated rats given paraquat had th e same lung lavage CINC levels and lung tissue MPO activity as saline- pretreated rats given paraquat, Our results indicate that paraquat cau ses an oxidative injury which may be decreased by the GSH-increasing o r other properties of NAC.