Zinc and N-acetylcysteine modify mercury distribution and promote increase in hepatic metallothionein levels
Abstract
This study investigated the ability of zinc (Zn) and
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing the biochemical alterations caused by mercury (Hg) and the retention of this metal in different organs. Adult female rats received ZnCl2 (27 mg/kg) and/or NAC (5 mg/kg) or saline (0.9%) subcutaneously and after 24 h they received HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) or saline (0.9%). Twenty-four hours after, they were sacrificed and analyses were performed. Hg inhibited hepatic, renal, and blood
δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity, decreased renal total
thiol levels, as well as increased serum
creatinine and
urea levels and
aspartate aminotransferase activity. HgCl2-exposed groups presented an important retention of Hg in all the tissues analyzed. All
pre-treatments demonstrated tendency in preventing hepatic δ-ALA-D inhibition, whereas only ZnCl2 showed this effect on
blood enzyme. Moreover, the combination of these compounds completely prevented liver and blood Hg retention. The exposure to Zn and Hg increased hepatic
metallothionein levels. These results show that Zn and NAC presented promising effects against the toxicity caused by HgCl2.
This study investigated the ability of zinc (Zn) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing the biochemical alterations caused by mercury (Hg) and the r…
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Although this study was done in rats, I wonder if alone NAC would have that potential problem but combined with another substance it becomes the opposite.
I just started taking it about a week ago and it has literally severely reduced, to now, eliminated my cravings for cocaine. I could not believe how well it has worked for me.