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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Sub-acute Cerebral Microhemorrhages Induced by Lipopolysaccharide Injection in Rats
Published on: October 17, 2018
Effect of N-acetylcysteine on lipopolysaccharide-induced uveitis in rats
Xue-Yun Zhang1, Seiji Hayasaka, Yoriko Hayasaka
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. ophthal@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Purpose:
In this study we investigated the in vivo effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced uveitis in rats.
Methods:
To induce uveitis, LPS (100 microg) was injected into subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats (170-190 g). NAC was injected intraperitoneally. Intracameral levels of protein, cells, nitrite, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-6 were determined by spectrophotometry, hemocytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
LPS injection elevated intracameral protein and cells, and the elevation was inhibited by NAC. LPS injection induced expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, E-selectin, and ICAM-1 mRNA in the iris/ciliary body at 3 h, and iNOS mRNA at 6 h. The LPS-induced elevation of the mRNA levels was inhibited by NAC. NAC inhibited LPS-induced intracameral elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and nitrite.
Conclusion:
NAC decreased LPS-induced uveitis in vivo by reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules.

