| Popis: |
The neurological disorders not only a decline in the quality of life for patients but also causes a global economic burden. Therefore protective medicine becomes more important for the society. MK-801 is one of the chemical agents used to understand the etiology of behavioral disorders and brain degeneration in animal models. This study aims to determine whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is useful to treat brain degeneration caused by MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist. For this, 4 groups were formed by dividing 24 male BALB/c mice into groups of six. The control group was given a saline solution (10 ml/kg-i.p.). While MK-801 (1 mg/kg-i.p.) was given both alone and with NAC (100 mg/kg-i.p.), the last group was given only NAC (100 mg/kg-i.p.). The drug administrations lasted for fourteen days. After the behavior tests (open field and elevated plus-maze) all animals were sacrificed and, brain tissues were collected for Real-time PCR, TAS-TOS analysis, and Hematoxylene-Eosine, Kluver-Barrera, and the TUNEL stains. In the MK-801 group, besides the neuron nuclear shrinkage, glial cell infiltration, vacuolization in cortical neurons, white matter damage, and apoptosis were observed. In the mice given NAC as a protector, it was observed that behavioral problems improved, antioxidant levels increased, and nuclear shrinkage, glial cell infiltration, vacuolization in the neurons and, white matter degeneration were prevented, MBP expression increased and TUNEL-positive cells significantly decreased. As a result, it has been observed that NAC may have a protective effect against brain degeneration. |
