N-Acetylcysteine Prevents Low T3 Syndrome and Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction in a Male Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction

Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) affects patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Oxidative stress has been implicated as a causative factor of NTIS, and reversed via N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Male Wistar rats submitted to left anterior coronary artery occlusion received NAC or placebo. Decreases in triiodothyronine (T3) levels were noted in MI-placebo at 10 and 28 days post-MI, but not in MI-NAC. Groups exhibited similar infarct areas whereas MI-NAC exhibited higher ejection fraction than did MI-placebo. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters were also preserved in MI-NAC, but not in MI-placebo. Ejection fraction was positively correlated with T3 levels. Oxidative balance was deranged only in MI-placebo animals. Increased type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase expression was detected in the cardiomyocytes of MI-placebo compared with normal heart tissue. NAC was shown to diminish type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase expression and activity in MI-NAC. These results show that restoring redox balance by NAC treatment prevents NTIS-related thyroid hormone derangement and preserves heart function in rats subjected to MI.