Impact of trimetazidine pre-treatment on 5-hydroxytryptamine and serotonin transporter in rats with experimental myocardial infarction and depression

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effect of trimetazidine pre-treatments on serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and serotonin transporter (SERT), platelet 5-HT and SERT in the Sprague Dawley rats with myocardial infarction(MI), depression, and myocardial infarction co-exist with depression (MI+ depression) and in sham operated rats. Methods: Eighty rats were divided into treatment group and placebo (saline) group by the random number table method (n=40 each group). After 4 weeks' treatment with trimetazidine, or saline, these rats were assigned to respective sham subgroup, depression subgroup, MI subgroup, MI + depression subgroup (n=10 each subgroup). All rats were sacrificed 3 days later. 5-HT in serum and platelet, and SERT in serum and platelet of the rats were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0. Results: In saline group, serum and platelet 5-HT levels were significantly lower in MI, depression and MI+ depression subgroup compared to sham subgroup (all P<0.01). In trimetazidine pre-treatment group, serum and platelet 5-HT levels were significantly higher in the depression subgroup, MI subgroup, MI + depression subgroup than respective subgroups of saline pretreated rats (all P<0.01). In saline group, SERT in serum and platelet were higher in MI, depression, MI+ depression subgroup than the sham subgroup and statistical significance was found between MI+ depression subgroup and sham subgroups. Serum SERT level was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to saline group for sham rats (P<0.01). In treatment group, serum SERT level was higher in MI, depression and MI+ depression subgroups compared to respective subgroup treated with saline while the statistical significance was found in depression subgroup between trimetazidine pre-treatment and saline control groups. Platelet SERT was higher in MI, depression and MI+ depression subgroups compared to sham subgroup post saline treatment. Platelet SERT was significantly lower in MI, depression and MI+ depression subgroups post trimetazidine pre-treatment than in respective subgroups post saline treatment (all P<0.01). Conclusions: Our study results indicate that trimetazidine pretreatment could increase the levels of 5-HT and SERT in serum and 5-HT in platelet, and decrease the level of SERT in platelet in the rat MI and depression model.