Objective: 

Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of several malignancies and various inflammatory disease, and is known to have hepatotoxic effects on the liver. Acetylcysteine is an antioxidant material. Acetylcysteine has a role in glutathione synthesis in the liver and lung for upregulation glutathione synthesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of NAC (N- Acetylcysteine) on liver damage, which has occurred by MTX using light microscopy.

Methods: 

In this study 40 Wistar albino male rats ranging between 250–350 g were used. Rats were evenly divided into four groups (control, methotrexate, methotrexate+NAC and NAC groups). 0.9% sodium chloride (0.5 ml, intraperitoneal [ip]) was administered to Group 1 (control) rats. Group 2 (methotrexate) rats received 0.9% sodium chloride (0.5 ml, ip) in the first two days and a single dose of methotrexate (100 mg / kg, ip) in the third day. For Group 3 (methotrexate+NAC) rats, NAC (180mg/kg, i.p) was started two days before the single dose administration of methotrexate (100 mg / kg, i.p) and it was continued for 9 days. Group 4 (NAC) rats received only NAC (180mg/kg, i.p) for 9 days.Rats were sacrificed under anesthesia and the liver tissues were removed on the 7th day after the administration of methotrexate.

Results: 

It was found that on the liver of rats, which was given MTX, sinusoidal dilatation, hepatocyte degeneration, vascular congestion-thrombosis, inflammatory infiltration on light microscope.

Conclusions: 

As a result of this study, it was found that NAC may decrease MTX-induced liver damage.