Combination effect of Aspirin and N-acetylcysteine against global cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Aim

The study was intended to investigate the combined influence of Aspirin and N-acetylcysteine on global cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury in rats.

Materials and methods

The ischemic reperfusion injury was induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCA) for 20 min and reperfused for 48 h. The treatment groups Aspirin, N-acetylcysteine and combined treatment groups were administered respective treatments, one week prior to the global ischemia and continued for the next two days. After 24 h of reperfusion, the animals were observed for behavioral assessments and after 48 h, all the animals were sacrificed to estimate oxidative stress parameters, acetylcholinesterase levels, neurochemical analysis in the brain homogenates. The proinflammatory cytokines in serum and histopathological alterations in the cortex and hippocampus (CA1 and CA3) were performed.

Key findings

The combined treatment group improved all the behavioral performances in the ischemic reperfuion injured rats than the individual treatment group of animals. Further, decreased the oxidative stress in the combined treatment group than the individual treatment groups. The acetylcholinesterase levels in the brain homogenates and the proinflammatory cytokines in the serum were significantly reduced in the combined treatment group than the individual treatment groups. The neurochemical alterations in the brain were significantly mitigated in the combined treatment group than the individual treatment groups. Further, the neuroprotection of the combined treatment group was confirmed by the histological studies in the cortex and hippocampus (CA1 and CA3).

Significance

Hence, the study suggested that the additive effect was observed in the combined treatment group of animals.