Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on intestine injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass
(CPB) in rats. Methods Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, NAC control group, CPB model
group, and CPB plus NAC treatment group (n=8). In the latter two groups, the rats were subjected to CPB for 1 h. The rats
received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline or NAC (0.5 g/kg) as appropriate for 3 successive days prior to CPB, and
those in CPB plus NAC group were given NAC (100 mg/kg) in CPB prime followed by infusion at 20 mg/(kg·h) until the
cessation of CPB. Intestinal and blood samples were collected 2 h after CPB for pathological analysis and measurement of
intestinal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interlukin (IL)-6 and activity of
superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and serum levels of diamine oxidase
(DAO). Results Evident oxidative stress and pathological damages of the intestines were observed in rats after CPB. NAC
treatment obviously alleviated intestinal damages induced by CPB, decreased the levels of intestinal MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 and
serum DAO and increased activity of SOD, GSH, and GSH-Px in the intestines. Conclusion Perioperative NAC treatment can
alleviate intestinal injury induced by CPB in rats by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory response.