Study of the protective effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on lindane-induced damage in respiratory system in rats

Abstract

Objectives: Lindane is organochlorine compound which is widely used in agriculture and medicine for treatment of pediculosis ( as shampoo) and scabies ( as lotion). Sometimes Lindane is absorbed through inhalation and leads to intoxication. The purpose of this investigation is studying of the protective effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine(NAC) on cellular damage that caused by lindane in Tracheal and pulmonary cells of Rats.Methods: The first 250mg/kg NAC (or its solvent) and then 40mg/kg Lindane (or its solvent) were intraperitoneally given. After 24 hours the animal were killed by Ether and The Lung and Tracheal tissues were fixed in 10% formalin. After preparation of microscopic segments, H&E ( Hematoxylin & Eosin) staining for histopathologic studies and AB ( Alcian Blue) and PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) staining for cytochemistry cells were used. Results: The results indicated that the tissue of lung and pneumocyte cells was intact in control group. Different cellular damages including swell of cells, formation of Vacuole, reduction of staining ability in the type II pneumocytes, thickening of Alveolar walls and injury in ciliated and nonciliated cells. Lindane caused changes of epithelium from pseudostratified to simple. Cytochemically, in control group, the epithelial tissue of trachea, neutral (PAS+) and acidic (AB+) glycoprotein secreting cells were observed. In all cases intensity of damages was dose dependent.Conclusion: The results indicated that Lindane cause cellular damage in the Respiratory system cells. The mechanism of this toxic effects is unknown, but reported that Lindane is converted into intermediate substance by the action of hepatic microsomal enzymes, and this new substance can deplete the glutathione of hepatic cells and as a resulst cause cellular damage. NAC with increasing the amount of glutathione will reduced Lindane-induced damage.