N-acetylcysteine versus N-acetylcysteine + theophylline for the prevention of contrast nephropathy

Background The use of N‐acetylcysteine or theophylline in specific subgroups of patients has been suggested to reduce the incidence of contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing angiographic procedures. Our purpose was to compare the use of N‐acetylcysteine versus N‐acetylcysteine + theophylline for the prevention of CIN. Materials and methods We randomized 217 patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula) between 30 and 60 mL min^?1 1·73 m^?2 who were undergoing coronary angiography to three prophylactic treatment groups: Group 1: Intravenous hydration with isotonic saline (1 mL kg^?1 h^?1 for 12 h before and after contrast, n = 72). Group 2: Intravenous hydration with isotonic saline (1 mL kg^?1 h^?1 for 12 h before and after contrast)+ N‐acetylcysteine (600 mg p.o. twice daily the preceding day and the day of angiography, n = 73). Group 3: Intravenous hydration with isotonic saline (1 mL kg^?1 h^?1 for 12 h before and after contrast)+ N‐acetylcysteine + theophylline (600 mg N‐acetylcysteine p.o. and 200 mg theophylline p.o. twice daily for the preceding day and the day of angiography, n = 72). The incidence of CIN (0·5 mg dL^?1 increase in serum creatinine from the baseline value 48 h after intravascular injection of contrast) was compared in three groups. Results Of the 217 patients, 12 patients (5·5%) experienced CIN. Five patients (6·9%) in group 1, seven patients (9·6%) in group 2 and zero (0%) patients in group 3 experienced CIN (P < 0·033). Conclusion Among patients with eGFR between 30 and 60 mL min^?1 1·73 m^?2 undergoing coronary angiography, oral administration of N‐acetylcysteine + theophylline in addition to saline hydration has a beneficial effect in the prevention of CIN.     

Role of N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RIN). DATA SOURCES: A literature search of MEDLINE (1966-December 2001) was performed using the following search terms: N-acetylcysteine, nephropathy, acute renal failure, and radiocontrast. STUDY SELECTION: Pertinent English-language animal and human studies were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Few small animal trials have demonstrated that NAC significantly prevents the development or reduces the severity of acute renal failure. Two human studies demonstrated NAC significantly reduces the occurrence of RIN. CONCLUSIONS: NAC may reduce the occurrence of RIN in high-risk patients. Further large-scale studies are needed to corroborate findings from earlier trials.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对老年糖尿病患者造影剂肾病的预防作用

目的观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)对肾功能正常或轻度肾功能不全的老年糖尿病患者造影剂肾病的预防作用。方法拟采用低渗造影剂进行增强CT检查70例年龄>60岁、糖尿病史1a以上的正常或轻度肾功能不全患者,随机分为NAC组与对照组各35例,NAC组造影前1d及造影后连续2d口服NAC,600mg/次;2组均给予水化治疗;比较造影前和造影后24,48h2组血肌酐、尿素氮和血胱抑素C水平及造影剂肾病发生率。结果 NAC组无造影剂肾病发生,对照组发生造影剂肾病2例,2组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);增强CT检查后48h,NAC组血肌酐、尿素氮和血胱抑素C水平低于对照组,估测肾小球滤过率水平高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论 NAC联合水化治疗对肾功能接近正常的老年糖尿病患者造影剂肾病有一定预防作用。     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对急性胰腺炎模型大鼠的保护作用

背景：急性胰腺炎是由胰腺腺泡细胞损伤介导的常见炎性疾病,白细胞浸润是其主要的发病特征。近来发现N-乙酰半胱氨酸能够控制白细胞游走并在一些严重的炎症疾病中发挥调节炎症反应的作用。
　　目的：观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸在体内对牛黄胆酸盐诱导的急性胰腺炎大鼠模型的保护作用。
　　方法：90只SD大鼠随机等分为正常对照组、急性胰腺炎组和N-乙酰半胱氨酸组,后2组以十二指肠大乳头逆行注射牛黄胆酸盐制备急性大鼠胰腺炎模型。N-乙酰半胱氨酸组大鼠由尾静脉给予N-乙酰半胱氨酸治疗。结果与结论：急性胰腺炎模型诱导后大鼠血浆淀粉酶活性较正常对照组大鼠显著升高(P<0.05)。急性胰腺炎组白细胞介素1β,6,10和肿瘤坏死因子α表达水平明显高于正常对照组(P<0.05)。免疫荧光化学显示N-乙酰半胱氨酸主要表达在胰岛细胞上,急性胰腺炎组织 N-乙酰半胱氨酸的表达从 mRNA 水平到蛋白水平都明显低于正常组织。N-乙酰半胱氨酸治疗显著降低了大鼠血清淀粉酶水平,髓过氧化物酶活性以及促炎性细胞因子产物生产和胰腺及肺组织损伤,但N-乙酰半胱氨酸治疗并没有明显抑制胰腺组织核因子κB的激活。提示N-乙酰半胱氨酸能改善急性胰腺炎大鼠胰腺和肺脏的组织损伤,并发挥抗炎症的作用。     

10-DHGD ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Organs subjected to chronic injuries may develop tissue fibrosis. Several factors contribute to the combat injurious stimuli to repair, heal and alleviate any disturbance. Secretion of chemokines, migration of inflammatory cells to the affected site and activation of fibroblast for production of extracellular matrix (ECM) are examples. Recently, few studies have delt with 10-dehydrogingerdione (10-DHGD), one of the active constituent of ginger extracts that has been published. This constituent proved to be potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor, indeed, a hypolipemic agent. It has been selected in the present study as a natural anti-inflammatory agent to combat inflammation, nephrotoxicity and renal fibrosis–induced by cisplatin. Renal fibrosis state demonstrated a significant increase in creatinine, urea, nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB), insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) along with a significant decrease of hepatocytes growth factor (HGF), renal glutathione (GSH) and in confirm to histopathological examination of kidney tissue. Administration of 10-DHGD orally daily for 4 weeks resulted in a significant improvement of both the biomarkers studied in addition to the histopathological profile of the renal tissues. Conclusion: 10-DHGD exhibited a marked anti-inflammatory potential, alleviated to a great extent of nephrotoxicity and renal fibrosis induced by cisplatin.     

Soybeans ameliolate diabetic nephropathy in rats

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus. Soybeans have been shown to reduce urinary albumin excretion and total cholesterol in non-diabetic patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, reports focusing specifically on diabetic nephropathy are scarce and the available results are inconsistent. It was reported that soybean consumption reduced urinary protein excretion in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy, whereas it was found to elicit an increase in urinary protein excretion when soybeans were consumed by type 2 diabetic patients. This study aims to investigate the effects of soybean in diabetic nephropathy, particularly the effects of consuming soybeans on the histopathology of diabetic nephropathy, using aquaporin (AQP) and osteopontin (OPN) expression as diagnostic markers. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of three groups: control, diabetic with red chow diet and diabetic with soybean diet. For histological examination, the expression of OPN and AQP, renal function and hemoglobin A1c were evaluated at the end of the study. Improvements in glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were demonstrated in the diabetic rat group given a soybean diet. OPN and AQP expression were suppressed in the kidney specimens of diabetic rats with the soybean diet. In conclusion, soybeans may prevent the weight loss and morphological disruption of the kidney associated with diabetes mellitus. Soybeans also may improve glycemic control. It seems likely that long-term control of blood glucose levels using a soybean diet could prevent the progression of diabetes mellitus, and therefore, nephropathy could be prevented.     

N-acetylcysteine protects the rats against phrenic nerve dysfunction in sepsis

This study investigates the association of oxidative stress with the function of the phrenic nerve and inquires whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may counteract the possible detrimental effects. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP plus NAC treatment. Sepsis was produced by the CLP procedure. NAC was administered at 70 mg/day for 7 days. Electrophysiology was evaluated by the needle electromyography of the diaphragm and phrenic nerve conduction study. Oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite/nitrate (NN), and reduced-glutathione (ReGSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and catalase (CAT) activities in the phrenic nerve. In the CLP group, ReGSH and CAT were decreased (P = 0.0001, P = 0.07, respectively); and MDA, MPO, and NN were increased (P = 0.02, P = 0.0001, P = 0.043, respectively), compared with the sham group. NAC administration increased the ReGSH (P = 0.036) and decreased the MDA, MPO, and NN (P = 0.008, P = 0.01, P = 0.032, respectively), compared with the CLP group. In the CLP group, electrophysiology revealed reductions in the number of motor unit action potentials (P = 0.0001) and prolongations in the latency of the compound nerve action potential (P = 0.0001), indicating phrenic nerve neuropathy. NAC administration significantly ameliorated these electrophysiological alterations (P = 0.011, P = 0.0001, respectively), compared with the CLP group. The present results showed that intraabdominal sepsis is closely associated with phrenic nerve neuropathy. In addition, NAC administration protects the rats against the detrimental events of sepsis.     

Beneficial effects of N-acetylcysteine on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory bowel disease in which oxidative stress has been implicated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible protective effects of N-acetylcysteine against acetic acid-induced colitis in a rat model. Rats were administered intrarectal saline (control group) or acetic acid (colitis model group). Rats with acetic acid-induced colitis were treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine (500 mg/kg) (treated group). Another series of rats were pre-treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine, then administered intrarectal acetic acid (pre-treated group). The degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of the colonic mucosa. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were measured in tissue extracts of the dissected colon. Administration of N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally or intrarectally ameliorated macroscopic score alterations produced by acetic acid in treated groups. In addition, microscopical improvement was observed in all N-acetylcysteine-treated rats compared to untreated animals with colitis. In the colonic tissues of the acetic acid-induced colitis, myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels were elevated, while the reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased. However, intraperitoneal or intrarectal treatment with N-acetylcysteine reversed these parameters, compared to the untreated colitis group. Notably, intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine elevated the reduced glutathione levels more markedly compared to the other treatment groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were increased in intraperitoneally or intrarectally N-acetylcysteine-treated groups significantly compared to the control, colitis and pre-treated groups. But there was no significant increase in catalase activity. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine could be beneficial as a complementary agent in treatment of ulcerative colitis.     

Intraarticular interferon-beta gene therapy ameliorates adjuvant arthritis in rats

Interferon (IFN)-beta has significant immunomodulatory properties and has received much interest as a potentially therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Systemic IFN-beta treatment of patients with RA was not effective, probably because of pharmacokinetic issues. Therefore, we studied the effect of local IFN-beta production by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to the ankle joints of arthritic rats. Adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats was used as a model to study intraarticular gene therapy with an adenoviral vector encoding the rat IFN-beta gene (Ad.IFN-beta). The effect on paw swelling was measured by water displacement plethysmometry. Synovial tissue of the hind paws was examined by immunohistochemistry. Bone destruction was analyzed on the basis of radiographs. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess IFN-beta expression. Levels of IFN-beta mRNA and protein peaked 2 days after intraarticular injection and declined thereafter. Local delivery of Ad.IFN-beta after the onset of disease reduced paw swelling significantly. This was accompanied by a reduction in synovial inflammation. The clinical effects in rat AA lasted up to 9 days. Strikingly, Ad.IFN-beta treatment protected bone from erosion, reduced levels of c-Cbl and Cbl-b (both signaling molecules essential for osteoclast activity), and reduced the matrix metalloproteinase-3:tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 ratio in the joint. Immunohistochemical analysis of the synovial tissue revealed a clear shift toward a more antiinflammatory cytokine profile. Local overexpression of IFN-beta inhibits arthritis progression and protects against bone destruction in rat AA. These findings validate IFN-beta as a therapeutic molecule for intraarticular gene therapy of arthritis.     

Sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan ameliorates experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats

Homing of cardiac myosin-specific CD4-positive T cells into the myocardium is the initial pathologic event of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Subsequently, various bystander inflammatory cells are recruited into the myocardium crossing vascular endothelial cell walls. Sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan binds selectin nonselectively and blocks its function. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate whether in vivo fucoidan treatment can improve EAM. A 21-day infusion of physiological saline or fucoidan was administrated intraperitoneally to the rats with sham operation (sham-saline, n = 5; sham-fucoidan, n = 6) or those with cardiac myosin injection (EAM-saline, n = 10; EAM-fucoidan, n = 10). After 3 weeks, fucoidan treatment improved left ventricular ejection fraction (79.04 ± 2.81 vs 65.94% ± 3.22%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) with a reduced ratio of heart weight to body weight (4.016 ± 0.239 vs 4.975 ± 0.252 mg/g; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. Furthermore, fucoidan treatment decreased serum levels of BNP (292.0 ± 53.4 vs 507.4 ± 89.2 ng/mL; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) and the myocarditis area (31.66 ± 1.53 vs 42.51% ± 3.24%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. These beneficial effects of fucoidan were accompanied by inhibition of both macrophage and CD4-positive T-cell infiltration into the myocardium. Fucoidan, a nonselective selectin blocker, attenuates the progression of EAM. This observation may be explained, at least in part, by blocking the extravasation of inflammatory cells into the myocardium.     

Bovine lactoferrin ameliorates ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced renal oxidative damage in rats

Milk provides a well-balanced source of amino acids and other ingredients. One of the functional ingredients in milk is lactoferrin (LF). LF presents a wide variety of bioactivities and functions as a radical scavenger in models using iron-ascorbate complexes and asbestos. Human clinical trials of oral LF administration for the prevention of colon polyps have been successful and demonstrated that dietary compounds exhibit direct interactions. However, antioxidative properties of LF in distant organs require further investigation. To study the antioxidant property of LF, we employed bovine lactoferrin (bLF) using the rat model of ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal tubular oxidative injury. We fed rats with bLF (0.05%, w/w) in basal chow for 4 weeks and sacrificed them after Fe-NTA treatment. After intraperitoneal administration of 9.0 mg iron/kg Fe-NTA for 4 and 24 h, bLF pretreatment suppressed elevation of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. In addition, we observed protective effects against renal oxidative tubular damage and maintenance of antioxidant enzyme activities in the bLF-pretreated group. We thus demonstrated the antioxidative effect of bLF against Fe-NTA-induced renal oxidative injury. These results suggest that LF intake is useful for the prevention of renal tubular oxidative damage mediated by iron.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide ameliorates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats

Therapies with prolonged exposure to high-concentration oxygen are common in the treatment of critical pulmonary and cardiac conditions in newborns. However, prolonged exposure to hyperoxia could result in lung damages and developmental disorders manifested as acute lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respectively. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been shown to have a broad regulatory effect on the respiratory system. In this study, we explored the protective effects of CGRP on the hyperoxia-induced lung damage. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normoxia, hyperoxia, and hyperoxia with CGRP. Hyperoxia groups were exposed to 95% oxygen for 14 days and treated once every other day with saline or CGRP. Hyperoxia exposure reduced the survival rate to 73%, when compared with the 93% survival rate observed in the normoxia group. The survival rate was improved to 84% with CGRP treatment. Treatment with CGRP under hyperoxia significantly alleviated the hyperoxia-induced lung histomorphological changes and the increases in leukocyte counts and total protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid that reflect the pulmonary microvasular damages. CGRP treatment also restored the decreased activity of superoxide dismutase, while it decreased the increased level of malondialdehyde in the lung tissues. Importantly, CGRP treatment significantly decreased the magnitude of the hyperoxia-mediated increase in the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA and transforming growth factor-β 1 protein. In conclusion, the hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury is associated with both oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and CGRP may ameliorate the hyperoxia-induced lung injury by down-regulating these processes.     

Pinocembrin ameliorates arrhythmias in rats with chronic ischaemic heart failure

ObjectiveVentricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a common complication of chronic ischaemic heart failure (CIHF). The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pinocembrin in a rat model of VAs induced by CIHF and further examine the possible mechanism.MethodsRats were subjected to ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery to mimic CIHF and then received pinocembrin treatment daily for 2 months. The vivo electrophysiology were performed to determine the effect of pinocembrin on ventricular electrical activity. The expression of Cav1.2, Kv4.2, and NGF was determined by Western blot. The structural change of ventricle was tested by the Echocardiography, Masson staining, and HE staining. The effect of pinocembrin on sympathetic nerve-related markers was detected by the immunostaining and the ELISA was used to test for biomarkers associated with heart failure.ResultsPinocembrin increased the expression of ion channel protein Cav1.2 and Kv4.3, ameliorated the shortening of action potential duration (APD) and reduced the incidence and duration of ventricular fibrillation (VF). Pinocembrin also reduced the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and improved the autonomic nerve remodelling. In addition, pinocembrin reduced the area of infarct area and myocardial fibrosis, accompanied by increasing the expression of connexin protein 43 (C_X43).ConclusionWe demonstrate that pinocembrin reduces cardiac nerve remodelling and protects against Vas induced by CIHF. The findings suggest that pinocembrin can be a promising candidate for the treatment of VAs.     

Fluvastatin ameliorates endotoxin induced multiple organ failure in conscious rats

OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is a severe inflammatory disorder that may lead to multiple organ failure. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is associated with Gram-negative sepsis and can activate monocytes and macrophages to release pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nitric oxide (NO) and anti-inflammatory mediator such as interleukin-10 (IL-10). In this present study, we used fluvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, to study its effects upon LPS-induced endotoxic shock in conscious rats. METHODS: The experiments were designed that rats received an intravenous injection of 1mg/kg fluvastatin followed 10min later, by an intravenous injection of 10mg/kg Klebsiella pneumoniae LPS, the latter inducing endotoxic shock amongst conscious rats. Subsequently, the levels of certain biochemical variables and cytokines in serum were then measured during the ensuing 48-h period following sepsis. These included total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transferase (GOT), alanine transferase (GPT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10 and nitric oxide. RESULTS: LPS significantly increased blood TG, BUN, Cre, LDH, CPK, GOT, GPT, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and NO levels but decreased the blood TCH level. Pretreatment of test rats with fluvastatin decreased blood levels of certain markers of organ injury, suppressed the release of TNF-alpha and increased IL-10, and NO levels following LPS treatment. Fluvastatin did not affect the blood TCH and TG level subsequent to the development of sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment with fluvastatin suppresses the release of plasma TNF-alpha, increases plasma IL-10, and NO production, and decreases the levels of markers of organ injury associated with endotoxic shock, so ameliorating LPS-induced organ damage amongst conscious rats.     

Tertatolol ameliorates renal function in rats with chronic renal failure

Tertatolol is a new beta-blocking agent which induces renal vasodilation in experimental animals and humans and increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR), diuresis and natriuresis. The mechanisms underlying renal effects of tertatolol are not known. Our aims were to establish whether tertatolol influences renal function by a systemic or by an intrarenal effect and to assess whether tertatolol could maintain GFR in chronic renal failure. Tertatolol but not propranolol when given as i.v. bolus injection at the dose of 25 and 50 micrograms/kg. b.w. induces a significant increase in GFR and perfusate flow rate (PFR) in an isolated perfused kidney model [GFR: tertatolol, 25 micrograms/kg; preinjection: 0.477 +/- 0.077 ml/min/g of kidney; 30 min postinjection: 0.996 +/- 0.114 ml/min/g of kidney. Tertatolol (50 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 0.517 +/- 0.040 ml/min/g of kidney; 30 min postinjection: 0.879 +/- 0.035 ml/min/g of kidney. Propranolol (500 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 0.574 +/- 0.045 ml/min/g of kidney; 30 min postinjection: 0.538 +/- 0.029 ml/min/g of kidney. PFR: tertatolol, 25 micrograms/kg, preinjection: 30.00 +/- 0.79 ml/min; 30 min postinjection: 36.20 +/- 2.58 ml/min. Tertatolol (50 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 29.30 +/- 1.44 ml/min; 30 min postinjection: 38.01 +/- 1.87 ml/min. Propranolol (500 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 28.70 +/- 1.04 ml/min; 30 min postinjection: 28.30 +/- 0.91 ml/min]. In the same preparation tertatolol significantly increases urine flow rate and Na+ excretion [urine flow rate: tertatolol (25 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 28.28 +/- 4.10 microliter/min; 60 min postinjection: 38.23 +/- 6.74 microliter/min. Tertatolol (50 micrograms/kg) preinjection: 24.02 +/- 0.63 microliter/min; 60 min postinjection: 33.18 +/- 2.07 microliter/min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

乙酰半胱氨酸对糖尿病大鼠心肌缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡的影响

目的：观察乙酰半胱氨酸对糖尿病大鼠心肌缺血再灌注后导致的细胞凋亡的影响。方法：实验于2005—09／2006—05在华中科技大学协和医院麻醉学实验室完成。纳入SD大鼠81只，先以“随机数字表法”分为糖尿病组（链尿佐菌素55mg／kg腹腔注射诱导，45只大鼠诱导成功36只，成模率80％）和正常对照组（36只）。以穿线结扎左冠脉制备心肌缺血再灌注模型，两组大鼠再分别随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注组和乙酰半胱氨酸治疗组，每组12只。乙酰半胱氨酸给药组：100mg／kg（用蒸馏水配成50g/L的溶液）灌胃，2次／d，连续1周，手术前1h再腹腔注射乙酰半胱氨酸150mg／kg；其他各组给予等量的蒸馏水。反转录-聚合酶链反应和免疫蛋白印迹分析法检测心肌半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3mRNA和蛋白的表达。原位末端标记法检测心肌凋亡细胞并计算凋亡指数。同时检测丙二醛含量和肌酸激酶同工酶活性。结果：去除诱导糖尿病模型失败的9只大鼠，最终有72只大鼠进入结果分析。①糖尿病与正常假手术组之间相比，丙二醛、肌酸激酶同工酶、凋亡指数、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3mRNA和蛋白的表达水平差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。（砻缺血再灌注后，糖尿病和正常乙酰半胱氨酸治疗组丙二醛、肌酸激酶同工酶、凋亡指数、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3mRNA和蛋白的表达水平均低于各自对应的缺血再灌注组（P〈0．01），高于各自假手术组（P〈0．01）。（固上述参数糖尿病缺血再灌注组高于正常缺血再灌注组（P〈0．01），糖尿病乙酰半胱氨酸干预组高于正常乙酰半胱氨酸干预组（P〈0．01）。结论：乙酰半胱氨酸可抑制缺血再灌注后半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3mRNA和蛋白的表达，减少缺血再灌注引起的糖尿病和非糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞凋亡，对缺血再灌注心肌有保护作用，但糖尿病组的疗效低于正常组。