Lactobacillus paracasei Has Anti-Inflammatory Effect on the Heart Failure Induced by Isoproterenol in Rats

Heart Failure (HF) has become one of the most prevalent cardiovascular problems worldwide. Considering the beneficial effects of probiotics on human health, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei in HF induced by isoproterenol. 

Forty Wistar male rats weighing 80g on average were randomly assigned to five groups of eight each: control, probiotic, HF model, prophylaxis including probiotic + HF, and treatment (HF + probiotic). The rats were treated and examined over 30 days. Heart failure was induced by the subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg/kg) once daily for 10 days. At the completion of the study, the ratios of Body, Heart, and Left Ventricle Weights (BW, HW & LVW), serum TNF-α levels, measured by ELISA, myocardial histopathological lesions were determined and compared among the groups. Cardiac hypertrophy was defined by comparing the LVW to total body weight for each animal.

The LVW and LVW/HW ratio were significantly increased in the rats with HF (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the LVW/HW and serum TNF-α level were lower compared to those in the HF group. Also, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, necrosis, and myocardial hypertrophy were remarkably lower than those in the HF group.

The study findings indicate that the oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei-8700:2 can reduce the cardiac hypertrophy, failure and inflammation induced by the administration of isoproterenol in rats. Therefore, the study results suggest a novel approach for the management and potential prevention of heart failure.