We investigated the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory markers in diabetic rat hearts. Metabolic parameters, free 15-F_2t-isoprostane level, protein expression of NADPH oxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase (HO-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were analyzed in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with or without NAC in drinking water for 8 weeks. The cardiac protein expression of p67phox and p22phox was increased in diabetic rats, accompanied by increased NADPH dependent superoxide production. As a compensatory response to the increased NADPH oxidase, the protein expression of Cu-Zn-SOD and HO-1 and the total SOD activity were also increased in diabetic rat hearts. Consequently, cardiac free 15-F_2t-isoprostane, an index of oxidative stress, was increased in diabetic rats, indicating that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) becomes excessive in diabetic rat hearts. Cardiac inflammatory markers, IL-6 and COX-2 were also increased in diabetic rats. NAC treatment prevented the increased expression of p22phox and translocation of p67phox to the membrane in diabetic rat hearts. Subsequently, the levels of cardiac free 15-F_2t-isoprostane, HO-1, Cu- Zn- SOD, total SOD, IL-6 and COX-2 in diabetic rats were decreased by NAC. Consequently, cardiac hypertrophy was attenuated in diabetic rats treated with NAC. The protective effects of NAC on diabetic rat hearts may be attributable to its protection of hearts against oxidative damage induced by the increased NADPH oxidase, and its reduction in cardiac inflammatory mediators, IL-6 and COX-2.