ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on lung tissue of Wistar rats, which were tracheally instilled fine particulate matter (PM2.5).MethodsForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: two control groups [they were blank group (C1), fake treatment group (C2) separately], four treatment groups [they were PM2.5 group (P), low-dose NAC group (L), medium-dose NAC group (M), high-dose NAC group (H) separately]. C1 received no treatments at all. C2 was instilled with sterile water (1 ml/kg) tracheally once a week for four times. P was instilled equivoluminal PM2.5 suspension (7.5 mg/kg) tracheally once a week for four times. The NAC groups received gavage (10 ml/kg) of different dosage of NAC (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) for six days. At the seventh day, the NAC groups were instilled PM2.5 suspension (7.5 mg/kg) tracheally. The procedures were repeated for three times in the NAC groups. Twenty-four hours later after four weeks or after the last instilling, all rats were sacrificed. Lung tissue was stained by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and histopathological changes of lung tissue were observed by optical microscope. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of serum, TNF-α of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), TNF-α as well as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) of homogenates of lung tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as the levels of malondialhyde (MDA) of serum and BALF were detected by standard colorimetric method.ResultsHE staining showed that the normal structure of lung were destroyed in the groups dealed with PM2.5 and NAC could alleviate these changes. Higher dosage of NAC seemed to provide more powerful protections. Structure of the lung in C1 as well as C2 were nearly normal. The levels of CRP as well as TNF-α of serum, TNF-α of BALF, TNF-α as well as IL-1β of homogenates of lung tissue in the groups of P, L, M, H were higher than that in the groups of C1, C2 (all P<0.05). The levels of CRP as well as TNF-α of serum, TNF-α of BALF, TNF-α as well as IL-1β of homogenates of lung tissue in the groups of L, M, H which groups received NAC treatments were lower than that in P group. More, the groups seemed to have lower levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β when higher dosage of NAC were given. The activity of LDH as well as the levels of MDA of serum, and BALF in the groups of P, L, M, H were higher than that in the groups of C1, C2 (all P<0.05). The activity of LDH as well as the levels of MDA of serum and BALF in the groups of L, M, H which groups received NAC treatments were lower than that in P group (all P<0.05). ConlusionTo some extent, NAC demonstrate antagonistic effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory injury on rats’ lung brought by PM2.5.