Schematic representation of NAC protection against cocaine toxicity.

<p>The acute effects of cocaine (<i>black</i>) on astroglia-like cells and the mode of protection rendered by NAC (<i>red</i>) through measured (<i>solid</i>) and/or inferred (<i>broken</i>) increases (<i>up arrows</i>) or decreases (<i>down arrows</i>) in levels of the indicated parameters.