Fig. 3
N-acetylcysteine prevents P3C-induced neutrophil infiltration into the CSF. a Blood and CSF bioavailability of NAC following intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg NAC in P8 rats. For the plasma concentration-time curve of NAC, data were fitted using nonlinear regression analysis. Confidence band is shown in grey, for a confidence level set at 95%. The insert shows NAC concentration in CSF measured 22,6 ± 2.3 min after injection ([C]CSF) and the permeability constant Kin CSF calculated using the plasma concentration-time curve best fitted for the 0-to-60 min time frame. The Kin CSF value for sucrose is also indicated for comparison. b Effect of NAC on P3C-induced PMN infiltration in CSF. Rats were injected i.p. with saline, P3C or P3C + NAC, and CSF leukocytes were counted 14 h later following Türk’s staining. Data from individual animals, and mean ±+/− SEM are shown. **: p < 0.01, one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. c NAC does not change PMN percentage within the total white blood cell population. Rats were injected i.p. with P3C or P3C + NAC, and white blood cells were isolated 3 and 14 h after treatment for myeloperoxidase immunostaining. No statistical difference in the percentage of neutrophils was found between P3C- and P3C + NAC-treated animals, at both time points. Data from individual animals and mean ± SEM are shown