Objectives: Free radicals have played an important role in the pathophysiology of severel disease including renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to estimate any protective effects of N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant and the precursor of glutathione synthesis on the tissue damage during ischemia/reperfusion injury of kidney.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four female Spraque Dawley rats divided into three groups: Group 1; was given saline intraperitonealy. Group 2; subjected to bilateral renal ischemia followed by reperfusion and saline injected ip 30 min before induction of ischemia. Group 3; is also subjected to bilateral renal ischemia followed by reperfusion and N-acetylcysteine (300 mg/kg) injected intraperitonealy 30 min before induction of ischemia. At the end of the reperfusion period, the rats were sacrificed. Kidney superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels, plasma urea, creatinine, glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were determined. Kidney was also histopathologically examined.

Results: İschemia/reperfusion application was increased urea and creatinin levels (p<0.001), it decreased “superoxide dismutase (p<0.01), catalase”. Both plasma and kidney malondialdehyde levels were increased and glutathione levels were decreased. In this group, necrosis and cast formation were also increased. N-acetylcysteine application was decreased malondialdehyde levels in both plasma and kidney tissue (p<0.001), and increased glutathione levels. Histopathological findings has shown a significant decrease in necrosis (p<0.05) and cast formation (p<0.01).

Conclusion: In the kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury, the oxidative stress may play an important role and application of N-acetylcysteine may improve tissue damage. ©2005, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi