Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Rosiglitazone (RSG), and Etodolac (ETD) and their interactions with peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-α (PPARα) in an experimental model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats.

Material and Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1 rats were fed with a standard diet (SD); Group 2 Rats were fed with high-fat diet (HFD); Group 3 Rats were fed with HFD and treated with NAC for 4 weeks; Group 4 rats were fed with HFD and treated with RSG for 4 weeks; Group 5 Rats were fed with HFD for twenty weeks and treated with ETD for 4 weeks. We evaluated the malondial-dehyde (MDA) level, and the expression of PPAR-α in the liver in all groups.

Results: In this study, it was observed that there was a significant increase in the expression of liver PPAR-α in the ETD group compared to the HFD group, and there was a significant decrease in the MDA level in the ETD group compared to the HFD group. We found a significant decrease in the expression of PPAR-α in the NAC group compared to the HFD group; and a significant decrease of the MDA level in the NAC group compared to the HFD group in our study.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that ETD may be a good option for the treatment of NASH, and NAC is less effective for the treatment of NASH.