Effects of excess iron on some cardiac hemodynamics, electrical and biochemical parameters

This study was carried out to investigate the role of iron overload in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease and assess the possible protective effect of desferrioxamine [desferal]. Changes in arterial blood pressure [ABP], ECG as well as plasma levels of creatine kinase [CK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], total iron and total iron binding capacity [TIBC] were determined. Albino rats were used and divided into four groups. Iron overload resulted in myocardial dysfunction evidenced by the significant increase in plasma levels of CK, LDH and TC, associated with significant increase in total iron and TIBC. The ECG tracing showed prolongation of Q-T intervals. Desferal treatment appeared to be of a protective value against iron induced hazards manifested by a decrease in the chemical markers of injury, LDH and associated with significant decrease in total iron and TIBC. Voltage generation in the heart was improved as evident by the significant increase in the R-wave voltage. The deleterious effect of iron-overload on the myocardial function and its amelioration by desferal suggested a causal relationship between iron and ischemic disease

protective effect of vitamin c against isoproterenol induced myocardial damage

This study was undertaken to elucidate the protective role of vitamin C against isoproterenol induced myocardial. An infarction-like lesion was induced in a group of rats by intraperitoneal [ip] injection of a single large dose of isoproterenol [50 mg/Kg bw] 24 hours before sacrifice of animals. Another group of rats was pretreated with vitamin C either in small doses [50 mg/Kg bw] or in large doses [100 mg/Kg bw] daily for six days before isoproterenol challenge. Control rats received ip saline injection for the same period as vitamin C- treated animals. Isoproterenol had induced myocardial damage as represented by the significant increase in the Q- wave voltage and S-T segment displacement associated with significant increase in the plasma levels of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] compared with control rats. In addition, there were significant decrease in the R-wave voltage P-R, interval, QRS-time and Q-T interval and significant increase in the heart rate. The changes in creatine kinase [CK], total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] were insignificantly different from controls. Pretreatment with vitamin C resulted in an outstanding protective effect, which was dose dependent, being more pronounced with the larger doses. This protective effect of vitamin C pointed to the potential role of this micronutrient in the prevention and promotion optimum cardiovascular health