Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation

Songül Barlaz Us; Gulsen Bayrak; Ebru Ballı; Ülkü Çömelekoğlu

Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation

Abstract

Aim: Radiotherapy (RT) has been used for many years as a curative or adjuvant with chemotherapy and surgery in the treatment of various thoracic malignancies. However, adverse pulmonary effects such as pneumonia and fibrosis can be life-threatening. For this reason, it is very prominent to support RT with compounds that will reduce side effects. This study examines the protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, against lung damage caused by radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight female Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into four groups control (injected with saline), NAC (injected with NAC), RT (exposed to radiation) RT+NAC (injected with NAC+exposed to radiation). After three months of irradiation, rats were sacrificed and lung samples were taken for light and electron microscopic evaluation. The alveolar wall thickness, mast cell count, and hyaline membrane formation were evaluated with light microscopy. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate morphological changes in the lungs. Results: The results showed a significant increase in scores of alveolar wall thickness and hyaline membrane formation and mast cell count in the RT rats. In the RT+NAC group, administration of NAC to rats caused significant amelioration in the measured parameters. Similarly, in electron microscopic examination, it was observed that the morphological damages in the RT group were significantly reduced in the RT+NAC group. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggested that the use of NAC before thoracic radiotherapy may reduce the damage to the lungs due to radiotherapy.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Songül Barlaz Us ^*
0000-0002-8695-001X
Türkiye

Gulsen Bayrak
0000-0002-1397-7203
Türkiye

Ebru Ballı
0000-0002-9950-5548
Türkiye

Ülkü Çömelekoğlu
0000-0001-8060-6333
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 28, 2025

Submission Date

April 22, 2022

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 27 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Barlaz Us, S., Bayrak, G., Ballı, E., & Çömelekoğlu, Ü. (2025). Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 27(1), 329-351. https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW

AMA

1.Barlaz Us S, Bayrak G, Ballı E, Çömelekoğlu Ü. Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27(1):329-351. https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW

Chicago

Barlaz Us, Songül, Gulsen Bayrak, Ebru Ballı, and Ülkü Çömelekoğlu. 2025. “Histopathological Assessment of Protective Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine on Rat Lung Exposed to Ionizing Radiation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 (1): 329-51. https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW.

EndNote

Barlaz Us S, Bayrak G, Ballı E, Çömelekoğlu Ü (June 1, 2025) Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 1 329–351.

IEEE

[1]S. Barlaz Us, G. Bayrak, E. Ballı, and Ü. Çömelekoğlu, “Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 329–351, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW

ISNAD

Barlaz Us, Songül - Bayrak, Gulsen - Ballı, Ebru - Çömelekoğlu, Ülkü. “Histopathological Assessment of Protective Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine on Rat Lung Exposed to Ionizing Radiation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27/1 (June 1, 2025): 329-351. https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW.

JAMA

1.Barlaz Us S, Bayrak G, Ballı E, Çömelekoğlu Ü. Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27:329–351.

MLA

Barlaz Us, Songül, et al. “Histopathological Assessment of Protective Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine on Rat Lung Exposed to Ionizing Radiation”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 27, no. 1, June 2025, pp. 329-51, https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW.

Vancouver

1.Songül Barlaz Us, Gulsen Bayrak, Ebru Ballı, Ülkü Çömelekoğlu. Histopathological assessment of protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine on rat lung exposed to ionizing radiation. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;27(1):329-51. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA66CX63WW