Studying the Histopathological Effects of Aerobic Training Along With Vitamin E Consumption in the Cardiac of Methamphetamine-dependent Rats

Methamphetamine abuse causes tachycardia, tachypnea (hyperventilation), high blood pressure, rupture of heart vessels, and an increase of fibrotic tissue in the human heart. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological effects of aerobic training and vitamin E consumption on the heart following the consumption of methamphetamine in male rats.

In this research, 54 adult rats weighing 200-210 g were divided into 6 groups, saline, addicted (sham), addicted+oral paraffin (AP), addicted+supplement (AS), addicted+aerobic training (AAT), addicted+aerobic training+supplement (AATS). After 23 days of methamphetamine injection, moderate-intensity aerobic training was performed for 6 weeks and 150 mg/kg of vitamin E was administered by gastric gavage. After this period, the rats were dissected and their hearts were removed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA methods at P<0.05.

The morphological investigation showed a difference between the two groups of sham and AP with the saline, AS, AAT, and AATS in the space between the endocardium, congestion, and vascular rupture. There was a difference in the hypertrophy of muscle fibers between the sham and AP with the saline, AS, AAT, and AATS in the morphometric investigation.

It can be said that methamphetamine causes pathological hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and destruction and rupture of blood vessels, and aerobic training along with vitamin E consumption causes physiological cardiac hypertrophy. Regarding the effect of vitamin E alone on the type of cardiac hypertrophy and vascular changes, further studies are needed.