protective effect of vitamin c against isoproterenol induced myocardial damage

ABSTRACT

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