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OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of L-cysteine on nickel-induced oxidative stress in experimental rats.
METHODS: Male albino (Wistar) rats were divided into four groups of seven each: the first group was used as controls. The second group was given orally L-cysteine at dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt. The third group was administrated intraperitoneally with nickel sulfate at dose of 20 mg/kg and the fourth one given both L-cysteine and nickel for three consecutive weeks. Liver function markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin and proteins in serum and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants parameters including glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured.
RESULTS: Nickel treatment produced oxidative liver injury characterized by an increase in hepatic markers enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH) activities and bilirubin level with a reduction in total proteins concentration. Simultaneously, it led to an increase of MDA level with a reduction of GSH concentration, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities. These results are also substantiated with obviously changes in hepatohistology. However, the treatment with L-cysteine significantly ameliorated the previous parameters and resulted in an improvement of the histopathological hepatic lesions.
CONCLUSION: Depending on the findings, it can be concluded that L-cysteine possesses a potential antioxidant power effect against nickel hepatotoxicity.
