ISSN 2149-2263 | E-ISSN 2149-2271
The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology
Reversal of doxorubicin-induced vascular dysfunction by resveratrol in rat thoracic aorta: Is there a possible role of nitric oxide synthase inhibition? [Anatol J Cardiol]
Anatol J Cardiol. 2009; 9(4): 260-266

Reversal of doxorubicin-induced vascular dysfunction by resveratrol in rat thoracic aorta: Is there a possible role of nitric oxide synthase inhibition?

Murat Olukman1, Cenk Can1, Ayşe Erol1, Gülperi Öktem2, Onur Oral3, Mehtap Gülcihan Çınar1
1Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir
2Department of Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir
3Provincial Health Directorate, Konak Gültepe Center for Family Planning, İzmir, Türkiye

Objective: The natural antioxidant, resveratrol has been suggested to protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Although derangements in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction caused by doxorubicin, the effects of resveratrol on these parameters have not been evaluated yet. We investigated the impact of resveratrol on doxorubicin-induced vascular dysfunction in rat thoracic aorta with regard to NO synthesis in an experimental, prospective, controlled study. Methods: Wistar rats were assigned to 5 groups; doxorubicin (n=9), vehicle (dimethylsulphoxide) (n=8), resveratrol (n=8), doxorubicin+resveratrol (n=10), controls (n=9). Contractile and relaxant responses were evaluated on the isolated thoracic aortas. The expressions of endothelial (eNOS) and inducible (iNOS) isoforms of NO-synthase were also examined histopathologically on the aortas. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA for repeated measures for the response curves and one-way ANOVA for the pD2 (-log EC50) and Emax (maximum phenylephrine contraction) values with subsequent Bonferroni test. Results: Doxorubicin (20 mg/kg, i.p), not only decreased the contractile responses to phenylephrine (p<0.001), but also attenuated the relaxant responses to acetylcholine (ACh) (p=0.002), calcium ionophore (A23187) (p=0.002) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (p=0.007). Immunohistochemistry revealed increased (p<0.05) eNOS and iNOS protein expressions after doxorubicin treatment. Coadministration of resveratrol (10 mg/kg/i.p.) reversed the increased expression of both NOS isoforms (p<0.05). Similarly, it prevented the doxorubicin-induced attenuation in ACh- (p=0.013) and A23187- (p=0.038) induced responses. In healthy rats the antioxidant did not cause significant changes. Conclusion: Prevention of excessive NO formation through eNOS and iNOS overexpression by resveratrol might contribute to the reversal of vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with doxorubicin treatment.

Keywords: Doxorubicin, vascular endothelial function, nitric oxide, resveratrol, rat

Murat Olukman, Cenk Can, Ayşe Erol, Gülperi Öktem, Onur Oral, Mehtap Gülcihan Çınar. Reversal of doxorubicin-induced vascular dysfunction by resveratrol in rat thoracic aorta: Is there a possible role of nitric oxide synthase inhibition?. Anatol J Cardiol. 2009; 9(4): 260-266
Manuscript Language: English


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