The effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on the female reproductive performance and nephrotoxicity in rats

This study was designed to investigate whether the treatment with the N-acetyl-L-cysteine prior to the administration of chemotherapy drug would prevent from nephrotoxicity and the loss of reproductive performance induced from chemotherapy treatment. Female rats were divided into five equal groups of six each: 1/control group; 2/rats i.p administered saline solution; 3/rats i.p administered holoxan (50 mg/kg b.wt); 4/rats i.p administered N-acetyl-L-cysteine (160 mg/kg b.wt); 5/rats i.p administered holoxan and N-acetyl-L-cysteine at the same doses. After medications, females rats were allowed to mate with males and the pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation. Premating treatment with holoxan showed reduction (p < 0.05) in reproductive performance. Whereas administration of N-acetyl-L-cysteine prior to treatment with holoxan and then concurrently with it modulated significantly fertility index, progesterone level, decreasing postimplantation loss, resorbed fetuses and improved fetal growth. Additionally, holoxan elevated the renal nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, oxidative stress, renal functions and caused histological changes in renal tissue. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine treatment reduced (p < 0.05) renal tissue NADPH oxidase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and improved super oxide dismutase (SOD) depletion, elevated levels phosphate, total protein and calcium as well as prevented renal histological damages. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine can confer protection against nitrosative and oxidative stresses in renal tissue induced by holoxan by suppressing NADPH oxidase activation, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and restoring SOD activity which led to the reduction of reactive oxygen species production and subsequently might effectively improve the gonadal hormone disturbance and reproductive functions.