N-acetylcysteine or trolox derivative mitigate the toxic effects of methanol on the antioxidant system of rat brain

The effect of two compounds: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and trolox derivative ( U-83836E) on the methanol induced impairment of the antioxidant system of t he rat brain was studied in male Wistar rats (approx. 250 g body weight). T he animals were divided into six main groups: control group (0.5 ml of phys iological saline intragastrically). NAC group (150 mg/kg intraperitoneally- i.p). U-83836E group (10 mg/kg i.p.). methanol group (3 g/kg intragastrical ly). NAC + methanol and U-83836E + methanol groups. In these particular gro ups the changes in antioxidant parameters were observed for 6, 12, 24, 48 h and 5 and 7 days. The results proved that the use of methanol and N-acetyl cysteine increased the activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, glutathion e peroxidase and glutathione reductase by about 15, 15 and 41%, respectivel y, in comparison to the group of rats receiving methanol alone. Similarly, the level of GSH increased by about 17%, the concentration of ascorbate by 20%, while the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-rs) diminished to the values as in control group. The use of neu antioxidant U8383E and me thanol showed less beneficial effect in the measured parameters however, it serves as a better protector for the methanol induced decrease in GSH-cont ent. These data suggest that NAC and U-83836E mitigate the toxic effects of methanol on the antioxidant system of the rat brain. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.