N-acetylcysteine modulates peripheral nerve excitability and conduction in a rat Model of chronic organophosphate exposure

We investigated the effects of chronic diazinon exposure on peripheral nerve excitability and conduction properties in rats and evaluated the potential protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Adult male Wistar rats were allocated to four groups (n = 9 each): control (CON), diazinon (COP), combined treatment (COP+NAC), and NAC alone (NAC) for four weeks.

Axonal excitability of the caudal nerve was assessed in vivo using threshold tracking, and sciatic nerve compound action potentials were recorded ex vivo with estimation of conduction velocity distributions. Diazinon exposure reduced rheobase and refractoriness, shortened the relative refractory period, increased superexcitability, and decreased the resting I/V slope, consistent with membrane depolarization and altered sodium channel function.