Effect of N-acetylcysteine on plasma adiponectin and renal adiponectin receptors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study investigated the effect of N-acetylcysteine on plasma adiponectin, renal adiponectin receptors, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Metabolic parameters, plasma adiponectin level, renal protein expression of adiponectin receptors were analyzed in controls and diabetic rats treated with or without N-acetylcysteine in drinking water for 8 weeks. Plasma lipid, creatinine and free 5-F2t-isoprostane levels, urine protein excretion rate, mesangial matrix expansion index, and protein expression of renal connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were increased in diabetic rats. The decreased plasma adiponectin levels and renal protein expression of adiponectin receptor 1 were accompanied by the decreased renal phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-alpha (Thr172) and protein expression of phospho-acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) (Ser79) which led to the increased renal triglyceride levels in diabetic rats. There was no difference in the protein expression of renal adiponectin receptor 2 between control and diabetic rats. N-acetylcysteine treatment attenuated the increased oxidative stress, plasma and renal lipids, urine protein excretion rate, mesangial matrix expansion index, and protein expression of renal CTGF, but did not affect plasma adiponectin levels, renal protein expression of adiponectin receptor 1, phosphorylation of AMPK-alpha (Thr172) and renal protein expression of phospho-ACC (Ser79) in diabetic rats. These results suggested that the decreased plasma adiponectin and renal adiponectin receptor 1 result in the increased renal triglyceride that stimulates renal CTGF expression leading to the renal hypertrophy and the deteriorated renal function in the diabetic rats. N-acetylcysteine treatment attenuates the increased oxidative stress, but has no effect on the decreased plasma adiponectin and renal adiponectin receptor 1 in diabetic rats, indicating that oxidative stress may not contribute to the decreased plasma adiponectin and renal adiponectin receptor 1 protein expression in diabetic rats.