N-acetylcysteine ameliorates chemotherapy-induced impaired anxiety and depression-like behaviors by regulating inflammation, oxidative and cholinergic status, and BDNF release.

Mood disorders caused by chemotherapy have become more important as the survival of cancer patients increases, and new studies in this field will contribute to the prevention of this disorder. For this purpose, we used methotrexate, a chemotherapeutic agent frequently preferred in oncological cases. Mtx was administered as a single dose of 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally to male Wistar albino rats. Since oxidative stress plays an important role in chemotherapy-induced emotional impairment, n-acetylcysteine (NAC), a potent antioxidant, was administered at 500 mg/kg in two doses before Mtx administration. We evaluated anxiety and depression-like behaviors 24 h after Mtx administration, as well as some oxidative and inflammatory markers in blood serum and hippocampal tissue, acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release in hippocampal tissue. In rats, Mtx induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors as well as abnormalities in oxidative and inflammatory markers in blood serum and hippocampal tissue, increased AChE activity in hippocampal tissue, and decreased BDNF release. NAC treatment was found to ameliorate Mtx-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors, increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate AChE activity and BDNF release. In conclusion, the fact that NAC treatment of Mtx was effective is important for revising the treatment strategies for individuals suffering from this disorder, and this effect is thought to be related to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power of NAC.