Dual behavior of N-acetylcysteine during ethanol-induced oxidative stress in embryonic chick brains.

Objectives: Ethanol (EtOH) causes oxidative stress in embryos. Because N-acetylcysteine (NAC) failures and successes in ameliorating EtOH-induced oxidative stress have been reported, the objective was to determine if exogenous NAC ameliorated EtOH-induced oxidative stress within embryonic chick brains.

Methods: Control eggs were injected with approximately 25 µl of water on day 0, 1, and 2 of development (E).

Ethanol- and/or Taurine-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chick Embryos.

Because taurine alleviates ethanol- (EtOH-) induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage in rats, we asked whether exogenous taurine could alleviate EtOH-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos. Exogenous EtOH (1.5 mmol/Kg egg or 3 mmol/Kg egg), taurine (4 μmol/Kg egg), or EtOH and taurine (1.