Neuroprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine in neurons exposed to arachidonic acid during simulated ischemia in vitro

The aim of the study was to assess neuroprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 100-200 μM) on cultured cortical neurons exposed to arachidonic acid (AA, 10 μM) during ischemia (oxygen-glucose deprivation). Ischemic conditions decreased neuron viability to 41-47% of normoxic controls; co-exposure with arachidonic acid further attenuated neuron viability to 36.73% after 24 h. Separate exposure to arachidonic acid in normoxia or to ischemic conditions only, increased the number of apoptotic nuclei to 33.56% or 36.78%, respectively. Combined exposure to arachidonic acid and ischemia increased apoptosis frequency to 62.20%. NAC (200 μM) decreased the number of apoptotic nuclei in normoxia in control and arachidonic acid exposed cells. NAC also decreased apoptosis frequency in ischemia to 14%. In neurons exposed to arachidonic acid and ischemic conditions, 100 and 200 μM NAC reduced apoptosis to 24.99% and 19.48%, respectively. NAC provided protection to neurons from toxicity due to arachidonic acid, ischemia and exposure to arachidonic acid in ischemic conditions.