The Evaluation of the Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Cisplatin-Induced Alterations in Exploratory Activity in Elevated Plus Maze Test in Rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on cisplatin-induced alterations in anxiety levels in rats, by means of parameters of the exploratory activity obtained in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Animals were divided into four groups: control group, cisplatin group (7.5 mg/kg/weekly of cisplatin), N-acetylcysteine group (500 mg/kg/weekly of NAC), and cisplatin plus N-acetylcysteine group (7.5 mg/kg/weekly of cisplatin, and 500 mg/kg/weekly of NAC). After two weeks of treatment, exploratory activity (estimated by means of the number of rearings, head-dippings and the number of total exploratory activity episodes) was significantly reduced in cisplatin group comparing to control values. Although NAC induced no alterations in exploratory activity when applied alone, simultaneous administration with cisplatin resulted in significant attenuation of cisplatin-induced decline in exploratory activity. The exploratory activity gradually decreased in time-dependent manner during five minutes of EPM test in all groups. The results of this study confirmed clear beneficial effect of NAC supplementation against cisplatin- induced neurotoxicity in rats. Antioxidative properties of NAC were manifested through restoration of exploratory activity, confirming that NAC administration can attenuate anxiogenic effect of cisplatin therapy. Those results could recommend NAC supplementation as a potential protection against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.