Ces radiol. 2010, 64(2):158-165

N-Acetylcysteine in animals with intact kidney and induced renal injury in concept of contrast-induced nephropathy: acute experiment in ratsOriginal article

Jan Šochman¹, Jan H. Peregrin², Luděk Kopkan³, Marcela Bürgelová⁴, Luděk Červenka³

¹ Klinika kardiologie IKEM, Praha

² Základna radiodiagnostiky a intervenční radiologie IKEM, Praha

³ Pracoviště experimentální medicíny IKEM, Praha

⁴ Klinika nefrologie a Transplantcentrum IKEM, Praha

Aim: So far there is no evidence confirming effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) administration on renal functions in various types of kidney-injured animals mimicking human conditions. Even in elementary interaction between NAC and iodinated contrast agents in terms of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) without graded kidney insult the literature does not reveal a consistent view. Our aim was to evaluate NAC protective effect in animal experiment.

Method: A total number of 139 rats were divided into 3 groups: Group I (n = 42) involved intact animals with no insult, Group II (n = 55) consisted of animals with subtotal nephrectomy, and Group III (n = 42) were animals with subtotal nephrectomy and further 12-hour long water intake restriction. Each of above groups was divided into 6 individual subgroups as follows: control subgroup without any pharmacology intervention, NAC subgroup was given NAC 100 mg/kg b.w., MIO subgroup received meglumine ioxatalamate 6 ml/kg b.w., while IOH subgroup was administered iohexol 6 ml/kg b.w. In the remaining 2 subgroups, a combination of contrast agent plus NAC was administered (MIO + NAC, and IOH + NAC). Plasma creatinine as well as creatinine clearance was measured before any agent administration, and 1, 3, and 7 days later for further evaluation.

Results: NAC administration improved creatinine-derived parameters (plasma creatinine concentration and clearance as well) on the first day after iodine contrast agent administration (p < 0.05) and attenuated negative impact of such contrast agents between day 1 to 7 in comparison to subgroups without NAC administration in various types of kidney injury.

Conclusion: NAC significantly improved creatinine-derived parameters in terms of various types of kidney insult.

Keywords: N-Acetylcysteine, iodine contrast agents, angiography, nephropathy

Accepted: April 15, 2010; Published: June 1, 2010  Show citation