Effects of N-Acetylcysteine, Deferoxamine and Selenium on Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatotoxicity Fatih Bulucu & Ramazan Ocal & Nuri Karadurmus & Mustafa Sahin & Levent Kenar & Ahmet Aydin & Cagatay Oktenli & Bayram Koc & Volkan Inal & Levent Yamanel & Halil Yaman Received: 27 February 2009 / Accepted: 6 April 2009 / Published online: 25 April 2009 # Humana Press Inc. 2009 Abstract The aims of our study were to evaluate the antioxidant defence mechanisms of liver tissue challenged by doxorubucin (DOX) and to compare the possible protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (n =10), deferoxamine (DOF) (n =10), DOF+NAC (n = 10) and selenium (n =9) on doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity. Fifty-six male rats (Mean weight = 250±50 g) randomly divided into five groups. Animals in study groups were pretreated with a single dose of Dox, which was administered intravenously. Control group (n =7) was treated with intravenous saline injection. Selenium was given intraperitoneally. Blood and urine samples were collected before sacrifice. Liver tissue samples were collected and tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), CAT activity, MDA, Zn, iron and copper were determined. DFO decreased lipid peroxidation significantly. DFO and NAC decreased CAT activity significantly. Antioxidant regimes increase SOD activities significantly. DOF and NAC increase GSH-px activities and copper levels significantly. Beneficial effect of selenium seems to result from its stimulation of SOD but not to GSH-px. It has been found that DOF, NAC and selenium have protective effects on Dox-induced hepatocellular damage. DOF+NAC did not result additional benefit. Biol Trace Elem Res (2009) 132:184–196 DOI 10.1007/s12011-009-8377-y F. Bulucu : R. Ocal : N. Karadurmus : C. Oktenli : B. Koc Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey M. Sahin (*) Department of Endocrinology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey e-mail: drsahinmustafa@yahoo.com L. Kenar : H. Yaman Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey A. Aydin Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey V. Inal Department of Internal Medicine, Military Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey L. Yamanel Department of the Intensive Care Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey