Effects of N-acetylcysteine stereoisomers on oxygen-induced lung injury in rats

The effects of the stereoisomers of N-acetylcysteine (l-NAC and d-NAC) on oxygen-induced lung oedema have been studied in rats. The NAC-isomers were given by an osmotic minipump in order to attain continuous administration, either intravenously or intragastrically. In some experiments, plasma concentrations of NAC, cysteine and glutathione (total concentrations, i.e., concentrations obtained after reduction of the samples with dithiothreitol)...