Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on reduced glutathione, reduced glutathione-related enzymes and lipid peroxidation in methanol intoxication

The primary metabolic appropriation of methanol is oxidation to formaldehyd e and then to formate. These processes are accompanied by formation of supe roxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. This paper reports data on the effect o f N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on reduced glutathione (GSH) and on activity of so me GSH-metabolising enzymes in the liver, erythrocytes and serum of rats in toxicated with methanol (3 g/kg b.w.) during 7 days after intoxication. Met hanol administration, increasing concentration of the lipid peroxidation pr oducts, decreased the liver glutathione-peroxidase and glutathione reductas e (CSSG-R) activities, GSH concentration and total antioxidant status (TAS) . The use of NAC after methanol ingestion apparently diminished lipid perox idation, elevated the GSH level in the liver and erythrocytes, and increase d activity of GSH-related enzymes in the serum, erythrocytes and in the liv er. These results suggest that NAC exerts its protective effect by acting a s a precursor for glutathione, the main low molecular antioxidant and as a free radical scavenger. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.