Cardioprotective effect of Resveratrol on Isoproterenol-induced experimental myocardial infarction in rat

Myocardial infarction affecting the mechanical, electrical, structural and biochemical properties of the heart, accounts for one of the causes of death in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of resveratrol on isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction in rats. For this purpose, fourty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups including: 1-control, 2-resveratrol treatment, 3-Isoproterenol treatment and 4-Isoproterenol plus resveratrol treatment groups. Isoproterenol (85 mg/kg) was administered at two consecutive days with 24h interval subcutaneously and resveratrol (20 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 30 consecutive days. Finally, blood samples were collected for measurement of cardiac biomarkers, creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase. All animals were euthanized for histopathological examination and the assay for myocardial antioxidant status, by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Microscopically, myocardial tissues of the isoproterenol treated group showed severe degenerative and necrotic changes, while resveratrol alleviated myocardial necrotic damage. Levels of SOD, CAT and GPx decreased significantly (p<0.01) in the isoproterenol treated group, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in the isoproterenol plus resveratrol treatment group. Resveratrol significantly (p<0.05) decreased MDA levels which was increased by isoproterenol treatment. The results showed that resveratrol due to its antioxidant properties protects the cardiac tissue of rats from isoproterenol-induced ischemic damage.