EJMS

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for more than 40% of total mortalities, of which the acute myocardial injury is the leading cause. Aim of the work: to investigate the possible cardioprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on isoprenaline (ISP)-induced acute myocardial injury in rats. Material and methods: Ninety adult male albino rats were used and divided randomly into four groups: Group I, normal control (n=40) received nothing. Group II, ISP treated (n=20) received a daily dose of ISP for 2 consecutive days. Group III, NAC before ISP-treated group (n= 20) received a daily dose of N-acetylcysteine for 16 consecutive days and a concomitant dose of ISP on the 15th and 16th days. Group IV, NAC before and after ISP-treated group (n=10) received a daily dose of N-acetylcysteine for 28 consecutive days and a concomitant dose of ISP on the 15th and 16th days and sacrificed 12 days after the induction. Survival, Heart weight, serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were measured. Myocardial sections were stained with H&E and Masson's Trichrome. The mean area % of collagen fibers were measured. Result: Group II showed significant increase in the heart weight and mean area % of collagen fiber compared to those of the control rats. H&E stained myocardial sections revealed disorganized, necrotic myocardial tissue. In groups III and IV the difference in the heart weight and mean area % of collagen fiber was non-significant as compared to those of the control group with few morphological changes, although the protection was more obvious in group IV. Conclusion: NAC possesses a cardioprotective effect against ISP induced myocardial injury which was more obvious when the NAC was used before and continued after the ISP injection.