Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer: A pharmacological assessment in mice

Abstract

Aim:

Since there is an increasing need for gastric ulcer therapies with optimum benefit-risk profile. This study was conducted to investigate gastro-protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models in mice.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 41 mice were allocated into six groups consisted of 7 mice each. Groups 1 (normal control) and 2 (ulcer control) received distilled water at a dose of 10 ml/kg, groups 3, 4 and 5 were given NAC at doses 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, and the 6^th group received ranitidine (50 mg/kg). All drugs administered orally once daily for 7 days, on the 8^th day absolute ethanol (7 ml/kg) was administrated orally to all mice to induce the acute ulcer except normal control group. Then 3 h after, all animals were sacrificed then consequently the stomachs were excised for examination.

Results:

NAC administration at the tested doses showed a dose-related potent gastro-protective effect with significant increase in curative ratio, PH of gastric juice and mucus content viscosity seen with the highest dose of NAC and it is comparable with that observed in ranitidine group.

Conclusion:

The present findings demonstrate that, oral NAC shows significant gastro-protective effects comparable to ranitidine confirmed by anti-secretory, cytoprotective, histological and biochemical data, but the molecular mechanisms behind such protection are complex.

INTRODUCTION

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a derivative of thiol-containing amino acid that is a precursor for the intracellular antioxidant glutathione. It has potent antioxidant effects, NAC detoxifies reactive neutrophils and enhances the eradication of free radicals through either conjugation or reduction reactions [1], as well as suppression of cytokine expression and inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B [2]. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of NAC in a wide range of diseases where oxidative stress, cellular degeneration and inflammation are critical drivers in disease progression [3]. It is well-known that imbalance between antioxidants and oxidizing agents can create oxidative damages to cellular components; however, it has been hypothesized that high concentrations of antioxidants, such as glutathione and vitamins E and C could generate pro-oxidant effects, mainly through the reduction of transition metal ions and the involvement of Fenton reaction [4,5]. Several studies demonstrated that lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation are the major outcome of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation [6], which plays a significant role in gastric ulceration. In accordance, thiol containing compounds like NAC reduce gastric mucosal injury that is caused by various ulcerogenic factors [7]. Gastric ulcer disease is characterized by the presence of sores in the gastric linings, which may occur due to imbalance between aggressive and gastro-protective factors [8]. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation play a crucial role in the etiology and development of gastric ulceration [9]. On the other hand, inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin [IL-6] and IL-10) and over expression and translocation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-KB) subunits play additive roles in the acute phase of inflammation as well as in maintenance of gastric ulcers [10]. Globally, gastrointestinal problems have now become a common disorder, affecting 8-10% of the population, and increasingly many research resources are dedicated to address these problems [11]. Acid suppression therapy and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection contributed to a reduction in the prevalence of gastric ulcer disease [12]; however, there is an increasing need for gastric ulcer therapies with optimum benefit-risk profile. Although the antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties of NAC have been established in other conditions, the gastro-protective effects of NAC as a potential treatment for gastric ulcer have not been previously studied [13]. This study aims to investigate gastro-protective effects of NAC against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials

NAC was purchased from America Medic and Science - AMS, USA. Absolute ethanol was purchased from BDH chemicals, Ltd., Poole, England. Ranitidine was obtained from SDI Company, Samarra, Iraq. Diethyl Ether was purchased from May and Baker, England. 42 male albino mice (27-32 g) were included throughout the study. The mice were purchased from College of science, University of Basra, housed in the animal house of College of Pharmacy, University of Basra, Iraq. This study was conducted in College of Pharmacy, University of Basra from May to August 2014. The animals were housed in polypropylene cages with three mice per cage under a 12-h light-dark cycle (7 a.m.-7 p.m., lights on), and maintained conventionally during the study with regulated air temperature (15-21°C), relative humidity (40-70%) and ventilation (air volume change 20 times/h). The animals were allowed to acclimatize for at least 1 week prior to the experiment. They had free access to standard diet and water ad libitum. Animal experiments were in accordance with National Institute of Health guidelines and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of College of Pharmacy, University of Basra.

Experimental Design and Animal Treatment Protocol

The animals were allocated into six groups consisted of 7 mice each: Groups 1 (normal control) and 2 (ulcer control) received distilled water at a dose of 10 ml/kg, groups 3, 4 and 5 were given NAC at doses 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, and the 6^th group received ranitidine (50 mg/kg), as a reference drug for treatment of gastric ulcer. The doses of NAC were selected based on previously published reports suggesting that NAC was not toxic at these doses [14]. In addition, NAC does not show any signs of toxicity at doses even greater than those administered in this study [15]. All drugs dissolved in distilled water and administered orally once daily for 7 days using gastric gavage needle before induction of gastric ulceration. On the 8^th day and after fasting for 22 h (but had free access to water), all mice received daily regular doses of drugs and vehicle 1 h before the induction of gastric ulcer. Absolute ethanol induced ulcer was performed according to the method described by Palacios-Espinosa et al. with slight modification [16], where absolute ethanol (7 ml/kg) was administrated orally to all mice to induce the acute ulcer except normal control group. Then, 3 h after ethanol administration, all animals were sacrificed by inhalation of high dose of diethyl ether, the abdomen opened and ligatures placed around the esophagus and pylorus then consequently the stomach was excised for examination.

Evaluation of Gastric Ulcer Area (UA) and Gastro -protection

The UA was measured using digital pictures under a dissection microscope, with the aid of the software UTHSCSA Image Tool 3.0 program to measure damage area [17,18]. The sum of total UA (mm²) was divided by the number of animals to obtain the mean UA for each group. Meanwhile, the percent of gastro-protection was calculated according to the following equation [19]:

Curative ratio = ([UA control−UA treated] × 100)/UA control

Histological Assessment

For histopathological examination, stomach was fixed in 10% formalin solution for 4 days, sectioned, and then embedded in paraffin. Histological sections were cut at 4-5 µm and then stained with routine hematoxylin and eosin [20], for examination under a light dissection microscope by a histopathologist for analysis of necrotic lesions, congestion, edema, hemorrhage, surface epithelium disruption and infiltration of epithelium.

Determination of Stomach Acidity and Mucus Content

The stomach of each mouse was cut along the greater curvature. Hydrogen ion concentrations of stomach content were measured using digital pH meter [16]. The gastric mucosa of all mice were gently scraped using a flat piece of glass slide and the mucus obtained was weighed using electronic weighing balance [21].

Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation; the values were first analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bonferroni’s post hoc analysis was then performed to compare treated groups. Values with P <0.05 were considered significantly different. Analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism software for Windows (version 5.0, GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA).

RESULTS

Photographic Investigation under Dissection Microscope

Gastric mucosa shows that absolute ethanol induced significant oxidative injury on the surface epithelial cells; the lesions produced were deep, inflamed with massive hemorrhage and edema in ulcer control group while in normal group no macroscopic or microscopic lesions were observed, as shown in Figure 1a and b. The mice pre-treated with different doses of NAC [Figure 1c-e] and ranitidine [Figure 1f] had considerably reduced areas of gastric lesions compared with ulcer control group depend on dose used with greatest gastro-protection observed in groups treated with the highest dose of NAC (500 mg/kg) and ranitidine.

Figure 1.

Photographs of gastric mucosa in controls and treated groups. Black arrows indicate ulcer areas. a Normal control group; b ulcer control group; (c) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 100 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (d) NAC 300 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (e) NAC 500 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (f) Ranitidine 50 mg/kg +absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg

Histopathological Investigation

Histopathological studies further confirmed that pretreatment with NAC inhibits the absolute ethanol induced gastric ulcer, necrotic lesions, congestion, edema, hemorrhage and extensive disruption of the surface epithelium in gastric mucosa as summarized in Figure 2a-f

Figure 2.

Photomicrographs of mice gastric mucosa stained with hematoxylin and eosin (×100). Ethanol induced damage to the gastric mucosa is indicated by the black arrows. (a) Normal control; (b) ulcer control; (c) NAC 100 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (d) NAC 300 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (e) NAC 500 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg; (f) Ranitidine 50 mg/kg + absolute ethanol 7 mL/kg

Ulcer Index and Curative Ratio

Orally administered absolute ethanol induced severe gastric mucosal lesion (lesion area = 24.5 ± 0.85); NAC at the tested doses (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg), showed a dose-related significant protective effect against gastric lesions, with significant reduction in the ulcer size achieved with the highest dose of NAC, and it is comparable with that observed in ranitidine group [Figure 3]. Figure 4 demonstrates both doses of NAC (300 and 500 mg/kg) exhibited marked increase in curative ratio, compared with that observed with ulcer control group; such increment were relatively comparable to that observed in ranitidine (as reference drug) treated group.

Figure 3.

Gastric ulcer index of absolute ethanol induced acute gastric lesions in mice (n = 7), ANOVA: Values with different letters a, b, c, d and e, P < 0.05 versus normal control, ulcer control, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 100 mg/kg, NAC 300 mg/kg and NAC 500 mg/kg respectively

Figure 4.

Curative ratio of different doses of NAC and ranitidine on gastric ulcer in mice (n = 7), ANOVA: Values with different letters a, b, c, P < 0.05 versus normal control, ulcer control, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 100 mg/kg, NAC 300 mg/kg and NAC 500 mg/kg respectively

Biochemical Investigation

In comparison with ulcer control group as shown in Figures 5 and 6, there was a significant increase in pH of gastric juice and mucus content viscosity of the gastric layer in NAC pretreated group and ranitidine treated group, where NAC administration antagonizes mucus depletion by ethanol and raised the pH of gastric juice significantly. Nevertheless, NAC, administered in low dose (100 mg/kg), was found to be ineffective in preventing the depletion of mucus content, compared with other groups and comparable with that measured in ulcer control group.

Figure 5.

pH values in mice with acute gastric ulcer induced by absolute ethanol (n = 7), ANOVA: values with different letters a, b, c, d and e, P < 0.05 versus normal control, ulcer control, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 100 mg/kg, NAC300 mg/kg and NAC500 mg/kg respectively

Figure 6.

Mucus content in stomach of absolute ethanol induced acute gastric lesions in treated groups in mice (n = 7), ANOVA: values with different letters a, b, c, d and e, P < 0.05 versus normal control, ulcer control, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 100 mg/kg, NAC300 mg/kg and NAC500 mg/kg respectively

DISCUSSION

The present study shows significant gastro-protective effects of oral NAC administration in ulcer induced by absolute ethanol. Aggressive factors such as acid-pepsin secretion, oxygen free radical production, lipid peroxidation, and matrix metalloproteinases play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of gastric ulceration [9,22]. Therapeutic management of peptic ulcer depends on modulation of such factors, and on this basis, several classes of drugs had been introduced, like proton pump inhibitors and histamine receptor blockers as antiulcer agent [23]. Aggressive factors involved in the pathogenesis of gastric ulceration are induced by several kinds of stress, including ethanol, NSAIDs or H. pylori [24]. In this study, we used a model of absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulceration for the evaluation of the activity of NAC as an antiulcer compound. Absolute ethanol affects the gastric mucosa within a few minutes of contact by different mechanisms, including gastric mucus depletion, decrease in mucosal blood flow and direct mucosal damage [25]. NAC (500 mg/kg) produces a significant gastro-protection, similar to that observed in ranitidine (reference drug), indicating the role of NAC protective mechanisms in providing reduced glutathione (GSH) as an endogenous antioxidant to protect the gastric mucosa through its function as a scavenger of free radical, which protect thiol groups from oxidation [3,26]. In the presence of NAC, the ROS production and consequently oxidative stress were significantly decreased, as reported in many in vitro and in vivo studies. This occurs directly or indirectly by restoring glutathione content [27]. Moreover, the significant inhibitory effect of NAC on ethanol-induced gastric injury can be explained by different mechanisms. NAC is a -SH containing compound with multiple regulatory and protective roles. They are involved in the defense against different chemicals that induce tissue injury, since both non protein and protein thiols can scavenge free radicals and affect enzyme activity, cell viability and membrane stability; such protective mechanism was reported in the stomach and liver injury [28]. Evidences from a variety of pathological and toxicological studies, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, chemically induced oxidative injury, radiation damage, aging and degenerative disease, indicate that GSH is a major component of physiological systems protecting against oxidative and free radical mediated cell injury [29]. Many in vitro and in vivo studies support this mechanism. In an in vitro model by Mann et al. to assess gastro-protective effect of NAC, they found the healing of mucosal lesions that induced by HCl was promoted and hastened by low-dose of NAC [30]. Furthermore, in an in vivo study of gastric ulcer induced by HCl in the rat, depletion of glutathione with subcutaneous administration of diethylmaleate impaired gastric mucosal healing [31]. These results are supported by the findings of various previous studies. Intra peritoneal administration of GSH protected gastric mucosa against stress induced mucosal ulcerations [32]. In addition, oral administration of NAC has been found to protect the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced gastric injury [33]. While oral NAC administration protected against ulcer [34], other study showed that intra-peritoneal administration of NAC increased the amount of gastric mucosal lesions after ethanol application secondary to reduced gastric mucosal blood flow [35]. Furthermore, NAC given intra-peritoneally in very high dose (1200 mg/kg) increased gastric injury [33]. The gastro-protective effect of oral NAC administration in the present study, which lowers mean ulcer size, may be due to the action against myeloperoxidase (MPO)/H₂O₂/Cl⁻ system. This fact was supported by a study done by Antwerpen et al.; they indicated that NAC and its lysinate salt were the most efficient thiol-containing molecules in scavenging of hypochlorous acid, which was produced by MPO, and appeared as efficient inhibitors of MPO/H₂O₂/Cl⁻ system, probably because of their relatively small size [36]. In addition, oxidative stress plays a critical role in enhancing inflammatory response. This leads to progression and deterioration of inflammatory conditions, where free radical may be implicated in the activation or modulation of a number of signaling pathways like NF-KB, and cytokines release, which promotes serious cellular injuries, and contributes to several inflammatory processes and human diseases [37,38]. NAC attenuates and reduces the inflammation through inhibiting variety of cytokines such as TNF-α, interferon-y, IL-8, and IL-6, and/or to restore the cellular redox-status, and regulates the activity of redox sensitive cell signaling pathways, such as NF-KB that control pro-inflammatory genes, indicating its protective action against cytokines-induced organ damage [13,39]. In light of these issues, studies gave evidence that both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of NAC are the major properties that actively participate in gastro-protective activity. Since ulcer formation is directly related to factors such as gastric juice acidity and mucus production, assessment of such factors gave an expression of ulcer status. Interestingly, our study showed that oral NAC administration significantly increased gastric juice pH level with concomitant increase in mucus content viscosity specifically in high dose of NAC. These results are contradictory to the assumption that NAC have mucolytic properties and should reduce mucus viscosity by breaking disulfide bonds between mucin polymers [40]. However, our finding came in tune with study done in estrous mares by Witte et al., they conclude that NAC treatment seems to induce mucus production and viscosity in endometrium of mares [41]. While most of the previous literature data focus on therapeutic potential of NAC on acute lung injury, acute kidney injury, hemorrhagic shock, hepatic damage after acetaminophen overdose, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, carcinogenesis and neuropsychiatric disorders [3,39], effect of NAC on gastric mucosa is an important matter. In conclusion, oral NAC administration shows significant gastro-protective effects comparable to ranitidine in absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models confirmed by anti-secretory, cytoprotective, histological and biochemical data but the molecular mechanisms behind such protection are complex and still unclear. Indeed, further pharmacological and toxicological studies are required to delineate such mechanism(s).