الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the possible preventive effect of 7 days pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on patulin (PAT)-induced hepatotoxicity in male mice. Obtained results showed that intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of mice with PAT in a single dose (3.75mg/kg) significantly increased hepatic contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), accompanied with elevated activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum. On contrary, PAT treatment alone markedly decreased hepatic contents of antioxidant parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Serum concentrations of total protein and albumin were also decreased following administration of PAT. On the other hand, liver contents of p53, caspase-3 and Bax were significantly increased accompanied with markedly decreased hepatic concentration of Bcl-2 after injection of PAT alone, suggesting ability of PAT to induce apoptosis. Treatment with NAC (200mg/kg/day) in mice for 7 days prior exposure to PAT significantly inhibited the above mentioned adverse effects induced by PAT. In conclusion, NAC seems to be effective in the prevention of hepatotoxicity induced by the potent mycotoxin PAT.