Angiotensin (1-7) and apelin co-therapy: New strategy for heart failure treatment in rats

Özet

Objective: Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced heart failure is a standardized model for the study of beneficial effects of various drugs. Both apelin andangiotensin 1–7 have a cardiac protective effect. We assumed that co-therapy with apelin and angiotensin 1–7 [Ang (1–7)] may have synergisticcardioprotective effects against isoproterenol-induced heart failure.Methods: The rats were randomly assigned to one of eight groups, 7 animals in each, as follows: (1) Control I (saline; IP injection), (2) Control II(saline; via mini-osmotic pump), (3) ISO (5 mg/kg; IP), (4) Apelin (20 μg/kg; IP), (5) Ang (1–7) (30 μg/kg/day; via mini-osmotic pump), (6) Apelin+ISO,(7) Ang (1–7)+ISO, and (8) Apelin+Ang (1–7)+ISO. Rat myocardial injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg of ISO for 10 days.Apelin and Ang (1–7) were administered 30 minutes before the ISO injection.Results: A decrease in the systolic blood pressure [SBP (p<0.001)], diastolic blood pressure [DBP (p=0.024)], left ventricular systolic pressure[LVSP (p<0.001)], left ventricular contractility [dP/dt max. (p<0.001)], relaxation [dP/dt min. (p<0.001)], and an increase in left ventricular enddiastolic pressure [LVEDP, (p<0.001)] were observed in ISO-treated rats. Plasma LDH and myocardial and plasma MDA were higher in the ISOheart than in controls (p<0.001). Histopathological examination of the cardiac tissue showed myocardial fibrosis and leukocyte infiltration inISO-treated rats as compared to control. Co-therapy with apelin and Ang (1–7) was more effective than either agent used alone in restoringthese parameters to that of control rats.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the combination of apelin and Ang (1–7) had a more cardioprotective effect than either usedalone against ISO-induced heart failure, and co-therapy may be a useful treatment option for myocardial injuries and heart failure. (Anatol JCardiol 2020; 23: 209-17)