HEPATOTOXIC EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON FEMALE RATS AND SIBLINGS - EFFECT OFN-ACETYLCYSTEINE

The effect of administration of N-acetylcysteine on ethanol induced he patotoxicity was studied in female rats and siblings. There was increa sed activities of serum transaminases and phosphatase in the alcohol f ed group. The number of litters born as well as the average birth weig ht in alcoholic rats were lower. Histopathological alterations were ob served in the liver of both mother and litter in the alcohol fed group . The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and free fatty acids also increased in the liver. In N-acetylcysteine treated rats, the number of litters as well as the average birth weig ht were close to that of control animals, The activities of serum tran saminases and phosphatase in female rats was higher than the control, but lower than the alcohol fed group. The levels of TEARS and free fat ty acids in liver were also decreased both in the mother and litters w hen compared with alcohol fed animals. Histopathological studies also showed the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine in both mother and li tters. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.