Health Research Journal

Introduction: Organophosphate (OP) pesticide is used as chemical warfare nerve agents against both military and civilian population during the Iran–Iraq War. Paraoxon (POX) as an OP acts via the inhibition of cholinesterase and disturbance in body antioxidant systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an antioxidant against POX- induced oxidative stress in rat brain and heart.

Materials and Methods: In present experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups including: control group (corn oil as POX solvent), POX group (0.7 mg/kg), NAC group (160 mg/kg), and NAC+ POX, all of which were given intraperitoneally. 24 hours after injection, animals were anesthetized by ether, and brain and heart tissues were quickly removed. After tissues hemogenation, cholinesterase (ChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, as well as glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined by biochemical methods. Finally data were analyzed by one-way Anova.

Results: POX increased SOD (P<0.001), CAT (P<0.01) and GST (P<0.001) activities and decreased ChE (P<0.05) activity and GSH (P<0.05) content in brain and heart. Also, POX decreased LDH (P<0.05) activity and increased and MDA (P<0.01) level in brain. Administration of NAC inhibited the change in these parameters.

Conclusion: POX induces oxidative stress in brain and heart via free radical production, depleted GSH content. Administration of NAC as antioxidant decreases POX-induced oxidative stress by free radicals scavengering and also GSH synthesis stimulation.