Acetylcysteine is used mainly as a mucolytic, which protects against acetaminophen overdose-induced hepatotoxicity by maintaining or restoring hepatic concentrations of glutathione.

N-acetylcysteine prevents apoptotic DNA fragmentation and maintains long-term survival in the absence of other trophic support in serum-deprived PC12 cells. N-acetylcysteine also prevents death of PC12 cells and sympathetic neurons^[2]. N-acetylcysteine causes dose-dependent reductions in viability in rat and human aortic smooth muscle cells^[3]. N-acetylcysteine activates the Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in PC12 cells. N-acetylcysteine protects neuronal cells from death evoked by withdrawal of trophic support. N-acetylcysteine increases nitric oxide (NO) release from protein-bound stores in vascular tissue. N-acetylcysteine pretreatment of PC12 cells interferes with NGF-dependent signaling and neurite outgrowth, and it is suggested that N-acetylcysteine interferes with redox-sensitive steps in the NGF mechanism^[4].

N-acetylcysteine (150, 300 mg/kg) treatment significantly reduces liver transaminases in all groups of treatment, mostly in group N-acetylcysteine 300. Lung glutathione peroxidase is significantly increases in group N-acetylcysteine 300 (P=0.04), while the other oxidation biomarkers show no significant differences^[1]. N-acetylcysteine improves cognition of 12-month-old SAMP8 mice in both the T-maze footshock avoidance paradigm and the lever press appetitive task without inducing non-specific effects on motor activity, motivation to avoid shock, or body weight^[5].

• [1]. Kalimeris K, et al. N-acetylcysteine ameliorates liver injury in a rat model of intestinal ischemia reperfusion. J Surg Res. 2016 Dec;206(2):263-272.

  [2]. Ferrari G, et al. N-acetylcysteine (D- and L-stereoisomers) prevents apoptotic death of neuronal cells. J Neurosci. 1995 Apr;15(4):2857-66.

  [3]. Tsai JC, et al. Induction of apoptosis by pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and N-acetylcysteine in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 1996 Feb 16;271(7):3667-70.

  [4]. Yan CY, et al. Prevention of PC12 cell death by N-acetylcysteine requires activation of the Ras pathway. J Neurosci. 1998 Jun 1;18(11):4042-9.

  [5]. Farr SA, et al. The antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine reverse memory impairment and brain oxidative stress in aged SAMP8 mice. J Neurochem. 2003 Mar;84(5):1173-83.

For survival experiments, washed cells are resuspended in RPM1 1640 medium and plated in 0.5 mL at a density of 8-10×10⁵ per well in 24 well plastic culture dishes coated with rat tail collagen. To feed, but to avoid loss of floating cells, fresh medium (0.2 mL) is added to the cultures on days 1, 5, and 10. For experiments involving “primed” PC12 cells, cultures are pretreated for l-2 weeks with NGF in RPM1 1640 medium supplemented with 1% heat-iN-acetylcysteinetivated horse serum. The cells are then washed and passaged into serum-free RPM1 1640 medium. MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Rats are randomLy allocated into five groups: sham group (n=5), control group with IIR (n=8) and three groups with IIR who are given N-acetylcysteine in different dosages: 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally 5 min before ischemia (n=8, group N-acetylcysteine 150), 300 mg/kg i.p 5 min before ischemia (n=7, group N-acetylcysteine 300), and 150 mg/kg i.p 5 min before ischemia plus 150 mg/kg 5 min before reperfusion (n=7, group N-acetylcysteine 150 + 150). After 4 h of reperfusion, the animals are euthanized by exsanguination from the abdominal aorta. MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

• [1]. Kalimeris K, et al. N-acetylcysteine ameliorates liver injury in a rat model of intestinal ischemia reperfusion. J Surg Res. 2016 Dec;206(2):263-272.

  [2]. Ferrari G, et al. N-acetylcysteine (D- and L-stereoisomers) prevents apoptotic death of neuronal cells. J Neurosci. 1995 Apr;15(4):2857-66.

  [3]. Tsai JC, et al. Induction of apoptosis by pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and N-acetylcysteine in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 1996 Feb 16;271(7):3667-70.

  [4]. Yan CY, et al. Prevention of PC12 cell death by N-acetylcysteine requires activation of the Ras pathway. J Neurosci. 1998 Jun 1;18(11):4042-9.

  [5]. Farr SA, et al. The antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine reverse memory impairment and brain oxidative stress in aged SAMP8 mice. J Neurochem. 2003 Mar;84(5):1173-83.

163.19

C₅H₉NO₃S

616-91-1

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere

10 mM in DMSO

* "<1 mg/ml"="" means="" slightly="" soluble="" or="" insoluble.="" "≥"="" means="" soluble,="" but="" saturation="">