Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Acute Hyperglycemia Induced by Urethane in Rats: Role of α۲-Adrenergic Receptor

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is used to treat respiratory, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders. In the present study, the effect of NAC was investigated on acute hyperglycemia induced by urethane (URE) in rats. The possible mechanisms including α۲-adrenergic receptors and insulin (INS) involvements were explored by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of yohimbine (YOH, an α۲-adrenergic receptor antagonist) and determination of serum INS level, respectively. Thirty-five rats were divided into seven groups with equal number to receive IP injections of normal saline (NS), NAC, YOH, and a low dose combination of NAC and YOH before IP injection of URE. Another ۲۰ rats were treated with NS, high doses of NAC, YOH, and their combination without receiving urethane. Time-dependent and percentage alterations in blood glucose level were measured and calculated, respectively. Serum INS level was measured with an enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) kit and expressed as percentage. Time-dependent and percentage alterations of acute hyperglycemia induced by URE were reduced by ۲۵ and ۵۰ mg/kg NAC, ۱ mg/kg YOH, and a combination treatment with low doses of NAC (۱۲.۵ mg/kg) and YOH (۰.۲۵ mg/kg). The urethane alone did not affect INS percentage, but NAC, YOH, and their combination increased it. Conscious rats showed no significant differences in blood glucose and serum INS levels. It is concluded that NAC produced an anti-hyperglycemic effect. This antihyperglycemic action of NAC might be mediated by α۲-adrenergic receptors and pancreatic insulin.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alpha-۲ adrenergic receptor ، Hyperglycemia ، insulin ، N-acetylcysteine ، Rats