Correlation between Oxidative Stress Markers and Biochemical Indices of Cardiac Function of Postpartum Albino Rats Administered Natron

Abstract

Natron has been implicated in the pathogenesis of peripartum cardiomyopathy, probably due to oxidative stress. The current research investigated the correlation between the antioxidant status of cardiac muscles and serum biochemical indices of cardiac function of postpartum albino rats administered natron. Twenty postpartum rats were divided into four groups, each group having 5 female rats. Group A received distilled water while groups B, C, and D were orally administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight of natron, respectively. The administration of 300mg/kg body weight of natron increased malondialdehyde level to 18.27±3.75 from 13.01±2.25nmol/g fresh tissue, significantly (P<0.05) decreased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and level of catalase (CAT) to 0.98±0.46 and 4.11±0.14 from 3.50±0.75µmol/min/g and 5.27±1.03ng/g fresh tissue, respectively in the cardiac muscles as compared with the control. Natron administration also increased the serum levels of troponin I and myoglobin and increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. The cardiac function indices showed significant (P<0.05) positive correlations with malondialdehyde and significant (P<0.05) negative correlations with antioxidant enzymes. The results, therefore, indicated that the administration of high concentrations of natron led to an increase in markers of oxidative stress in the cardiac muscles, which may be responsible for the observed derangement in the cardiac function indices.