الفهرس 
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Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cases of diabetes mellitus producing an oxidative stress which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Therefore this study planned to investigate the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as antioxidant in prevention of that complication. This role has been studied in comparison with that of another antidiabetic drug; Metformin HCL (MET HC).140 albino rats were divided into 7 equal groups. Group I: Negative control, group II: NAC, group III: MET HCL, group IV, group V, group VI and group VI injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to produce experimental diabetes. Group IV: used as positive control and did not treated, group V: Treated with MET HCL, group VI: Treated with NAC and group VII: Treated with combined treatment of MET HCL and NAC. The present results revealed that, STZ caused hyperglycemia characterized by significant increases in the levels of plasma glucose, serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, LDL- cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and decrease levels of HDL –cholesterol and insulin concentration. Also STZ increased levels of liver MDA and decreased levels of ,hepatic total protein ,hepatic glutathione (GSH), and activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Glutathione–s- transferase (GST). These results were supported by histopathological changes in liver and pancreas. Administration of either MET HCL or NAC after STZ injection modulated significantly the alterations in most of the previously mentioned parameters into its normal ranges. Administration of synergistic combination of MET HCL and NAC produced more pronounced antioxidant effect than that produced by each one alone. The biochemical results were supported by the improvement in histological architecture of liver and pancreas tissues, implicating that these antioxidants either alone or their combination may protect liver and pancreas from the harmful effects of diabetogenic agents.