Objective and design: To investigate whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) alters baker's-yeast-induced fever and inflammation.
Material or subjects: Male Wistar rats (26-28 days old) injected with baker's yeast (135 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or prostaglandin E(2) (300 ng/100 μL, intrathecal).
Treatment: Rats were injected with NAC (500 mg/kg, subcutaneous, or 50 μg/100 μL, intrathecal) 1 h before, or 2 h after, pyrogen injection.
Methods: Rectal temperature changes induced by baker's yeast, PGE(2) and NAC were followed up over time. Four hours after baker's yeast injection, total leukocytes, protein, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nonprotein thiol content were assessed in peritoneal lavage and hypothalamus.
Results: Systemic administration of NAC decreased leukocytes, protein, IL-1β and TNF-α levels in peritoneal lavage, and decreased IL-1β levels in the hypothalamus. The central administration of NAC prevented baker's-yeast-induced fever, but did not alter the febrile response elicited by prostaglandin E(2).
Conclusion: These results suggest an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic role for NAC in yeast-induced peritonitis.