Figure 7. NAC administration decreased the activation of the Akt, NF-κB, MAPK pathway and expression of cytokines in albino guinea pig.

Three groups of GP (A, B, and C; n = 3 per group) were used. Group A and Group B were fed only ordinary food, while Group C was fed ordinary food and 1200 mg/kg/day of NAC. Group A were injected with 0.2 ml of saline solution (control group) and Group B and Group C were injected with 2 mg/ml Cr(VI) in saline (Cr(VI) exposed Group). Forty-eight hours after these injections, skin specimens were taken for analysis. (A) Epidermal protein was extracted for western blot analysis and results demonstrated the activation of phospho-Akt, phospho-p65, phospho-IκBα, phospho-ERK, phospho-p38 and phospho-JNK in Group B, but the phosphorylation of these proteins were inhibited by NAC administration. A₁, A₂ and A₃ reflect the three independent specimens from the control group. B₁, B₂ and B₃ reflect the three independent specimens from the Cr(VI) exposed group. C₁, C₂ and C₃ reflect the three independent specimens from the Cr(VI)+NAC exposed group. (B) Skin biopsy from the control group showed no staining of TNF-α and IL-1α in the epidermis (400×). The Cr(VI) exposed group induced the expression of TNF-α (arrow) and IL-1α (arrow) (400×). However, the Cr(VI)+NAC exposed group showed significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-1α in the epidermis (400×). Scale bars: 40 µm.