The effect of resveratrol supplementation and aerobic training on cardiac tissue alteration of rats with acute myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is the worst consequence of coronary disease. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of resveratrol (RES) supplementation and aerobic training (EXE) on cardiac tissue alteration in rats with acute myocardial infarction due to isoproterenol (ISO) application.

Fifty male Wistar rats (age; 8-10 weeks, weight; 180-200 g) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): control, ISO, ISO + RES, ISO + EXE and ISO + RES + EXE groups. The EXE groups ran for 8 weeks and 5 times per week on treadmill at speed of 22m/min for 30 minutes. Rats in the RES groups received daily 25 mg/kg of resveratrol orally for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment all animals received subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (150 mg/kg/day) on two consecutive days. Twenty-four h after the second injection of isoproterenol all animals were anesthetized and EEG patterns were recorded. Then myeloperoxidase activity, superoxide dismutase and apoptosis were measured in the isolated cardiac tissue.

The results showed that rats in control group had a normal ECG patterns without deviation. Isoproterenol caused disturbances in the ECG pattern. In ISO group, rate of infarction size, MPO and apoptosis were significantly increased, and level of SOD was decreased (p < 0.001). Pretreatment with resveratrol and exercise training led to significantly decreased in infarction size, MPO and apoptosis and significantly increased in SOD. These changes in the ISO + Ex + Res group was significant than other groups (p < 0.01).

The combination of resveratrol and aerobic exercise by reducing the production of superoxide, lipid peroxides and activation of antioxidant defense helps to protect the heart against oxidative stress and development of apoptosis after ischemia.