Pomegranate Peel Extract Attenuates Isoprenaline-Induced Takotsubo-like Myocardial Injury in Rats

Abstract

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome characterised by catecholamine-induced oxidative tissue damage. Punica granatum, a fruit-bearing tree, is known to have high polyphenolic content and has been proven to be a potent antioxidant. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) pre-treatment on isoprenaline-induced takotsubo-like myocardial injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomised into four groups. Animals in the PoPEx(P) and PoPEx + isoprenaline group (P + I) were pre-treated for 7 days with 100 mg/kg/day of PoPEx. On the sixth and the seventh day, TTS-like syndrome was induced in rats from the isoprenaline(I) and P + I groups by administering 85 mg/kg/day of isoprenaline. PoPEx pre-treatment led to the elevation of superoxide dismutase and catalase (p < 0.05), reduced glutathione (p < 0.001) levels, decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.001), H2O2, O2− (p < 0.05), and NO2− (p < 0.001), in the P + I group, when compared to the I group. In addition, a significant reduction in the levels of cardiac damage markers, as well as a reduction in the extent of cardiac damage, was found. In conclusion, PoPEx pre-treatment significantly attenuated the isoprenaline-induced myocardial damage, primarily via the preservation of endogenous antioxidant capacity in the rat model of takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy.

Liraglutide Protects Cardiomyocytes against Isoprenaline-Induced Apoptosis in Experimental Takotsubo Syndrome

“…Second, because of the excess of catecholamines in patients with TTS, adrenalin can also be used to induce TTS in animals [ 61 ]. At the same time, in animal models, isoprenaline is also used because its effects are more limited to the heart [ 4 , 12 , 32 , 58 ], and isoprenaline causes similar pathophysiological features as TTS [ 12 , 31 ]. Third, although in this experiment the apical akinesia characteristic for TTS was not demonstrated, Sachdeva et al [ 11 ] documented it after using the same dose and the same time sequence of isoprenaline administration used in this study.…”

“…Experimental animals were treated with liraglutide or saline for 10 days, and on days 9 and 10, myocardial injury was induced by isoprenaline. The experimental model of Takotsubo (TT)-like myocardial injury included the administration of two doses of isoprenaline (each 85 mg/kg) with 24 h intervals, as previously described [ 11 , 12 ]. Rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) control group (C) n = 6—rats were treated with saline 1 mL/kg sc for 10 days, and on days 9 and 10, they were treated with saline 1 mL/kg sc; (2) liraglutide group (L) n = 6—rats received liraglutide in a dose of 1.8 mg/kg sc from days 1 to 10 and were treated with saline 1 mL/kg sc on days 9 and 10; (3) isoprenaline group (I) n = 8—experimental animals were treated with saline 1 mL/kg sc for 10 days, and myocardial injury was induced by application of isoprenaline 85 mg/kg sc on days 9 and 10; (4) liraglutide + isoprenaline group (L + I group) n = 9—rats received liraglutide in a dose of 1.8 mg/kg sc for 10 days, and isoprenaline 85 mg/kg sc was administered on days 9 and 10.…”