Open Access

N-acetylcysteine ameliorates contrast‑induced kidney injury in rats with unilateral hydronephrosis

  • Authors:
    • Qiang Xia
    • Chunxiao Liu
    • Xia Zheng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 21, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8122
  • Pages: 2203-2210
  • Copyright: © Xia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of N‑acetylcysteine (NAC) on contrast‑induced acute kidney injury in rats with unilateral hyronephrosis. Eighty‑two male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to undergo sham operation (n=14) or unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) (n=68). After 3 weeks, the UUO animals were randomized to three groups: NAC gastric perfusion, UUO+iohexol+NAC (n=24); normal saline perfusion, UUO+iohexol (n=24); and controls, UUO (n=20). After 3 days, UUO+iohexol+NAC and UUO+iohexol rats were injected with iohexol. One day after contrast, half of the rats were sacrificed to assess the pathological changes to the kidneys, serum creatinine, serum neutrophil gelatinase‑associated lipocalin (NGAL), renal cell apoptosis rate and expression of apoptosis regulators Bcl‑2/Bax. The remaining rats underwent obstruction relief and were analyzed 3 weeks later. Compared with the controls, serum NGAL levels were high in UUO+iohexol rats 1 day following injection and 3 weeks after obstruction relief, but UUO+iohexol+NAC rats exhibited lower serum NGAL levels compared with UUO+iohexol rats (all P<0.05). Following modeling, UUO+iohexol rats exhibited a significantly higher apoptosis rate of renal tubular cells, higher expression of Bax mRNA, and lower ratio of Bcl‑2/Bax (all P<0.05). Three weeks after obstruction relief, UUO+iohexol+NAC rats exhibited a lower apoptosis rate, lower Bax mRNA expression, higher expression of Bcl‑2 mRNA and higher ratio of Bcl‑2/Bax (all P<0.05) compared with day 1 following drug administration. The prophylactic use of NAC reduced the apoptotic rate of renal tubular cells following contrast exposition, which was accompanied by changes in the expression of Bcl‑2/Bax mRNA.
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February-2018
Volume 17 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
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Spandidos Publications style
Xia Q, Liu C and Zheng X: N-acetylcysteine ameliorates contrast‑induced kidney injury in rats with unilateral hydronephrosis. Mol Med Rep 17: 2203-2210, 2018
APA
Xia, Q., Liu, C., & Zheng, X. (2018). N-acetylcysteine ameliorates contrast‑induced kidney injury in rats with unilateral hydronephrosis. Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 2203-2210. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8122
MLA
Xia, Q., Liu, C., Zheng, X."N-acetylcysteine ameliorates contrast‑induced kidney injury in rats with unilateral hydronephrosis". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.2 (2018): 2203-2210.
Chicago
Xia, Q., Liu, C., Zheng, X."N-acetylcysteine ameliorates contrast‑induced kidney injury in rats with unilateral hydronephrosis". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 2 (2018): 2203-2210. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8122