Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine and/or Selenium on Methionine-Induced Ovary and Uterus Histological Damage and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Abstract

Background: Methionine supplementation is considered as one of the main factors inducing hyperhomocysteinemia, which is thought to stimulate inflammation and increase the risk of vascular diseases. Aim of study: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of selenium, N-acetyl cystein and their combination on certain biochemical parameters and histological structure of ovary and uterus. Materials and Methods: Four groups (n=6) of female rats were randomly assigned to receive a diet supplement containing (17gm/kg body weight) methionine, while the control group n=6 for each group) were fed standard diet. In group 2, (1gm/kg body weight) N-acetyl cysteine were fed with the methionine diet, while in group 3, (5ppm) selenium was added to the water. The combinations of all treatments (Methionine, N-acetyl cysteine and selenium) were used in group four. After 5 weeks, all rats were dissected for biochemical tests including determination of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in sera, also histological evaluation performed in histological paraffin sections of ovary and uterus. Results: The data revealed a significant (P<0.01) elevation of TBARS and significant reduction in GSH in methionine treated rats. The histological sections showed reduced of ovarian follicles associated with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in myometrium of uterus. Significant restoring of TBARS and reduced GSH levels were produced by all NAC, selenium and combination treatments, except for selenium which failed to decrease TBARS significantly. The developmental stages of ovarian follicles similar to control rats were seen in combination group. Conclusion: This finding explains the oxidative and toxic actions of methionine, and the antioxidant activity of NAC and selenium, also it explains the synergistic therapeutic effects of NAC and selenium combination.