AIM: To investigate the protective effects of N-acetyl-
cysteine (NAC) and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester
(L-NAME) on aluminium phosphide (AlP) poisoning
induced hemodynamic changes, myocardial oxygen free
radical injury and on survival time in rats. METH-
ODS: AlP (12.5 mg/kg) was administered intragastri
cally under urethane anaesthesia. The effect of pre- and
post-treatment with NAC and L-NAME alone and in
combination was studied on haemodynamic parameters
[blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and electrocar-
diogram (ECG) ] and biochemical parameters ( malonyl-
dialdehyde, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). RE
SULTS: AlP caused significant hypotension, tachycar
dia, ECG abnormalities, and finally marked bradycardia.
The mean survival time was (90 ± 10) min. There was
significant increase in myocardial malonyldialdehyde
(MDA), and decrease in catalase and glutathione peroxi
dase (GSH Px) levels. NAC infusion (6.25 mg·kg-1·
min-1, iv for 30 min) caused insignificant hemodynamic
and biochemical changes. Pre- and post-treatment of
NAC with AlP significantly increased the survival time,
stabilized BP, HR, and ECG, decreased MDA and in
creased GSH Px levels compared to AlP group. L-
NAME infusion ( 1 mg· kg- 1· min- 1, iv for 60 min) as
such caused significant rise in BP but precipitated ECG
abnormalities. Pre- and post-treatment of L-NAME with
AlP neither improved the survival time nor the biochemi
cal parameters despite significant rise in BP. Co-admin-
istration of both the drugs with AlP worsened the hemo
dynamic and biochemical parameters with reduction in the
survival time as compared to AlP. CONCLUSION:
NAC increased the survival time by reducing myocardial
oxidative injury whereas L-NAME showed no such pro
tective effects in rats exposed to AlP.