Potential effects of aliskiren on myocardial infarction on top of hypertension and heart failure in rats

Abstract

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is defined as an irreversible injury or subsequent necrosis of myocardial cells due to interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart. Heart failure (HF) occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body’s needs. Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated; it is said to be present when blood pressure values are at or above 140/90 mmHg. Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Aim The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of aliskiren (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on experimentally induced MI in hypertensive rats with HF. Materials and methods Model of MI: animals were classified into the following groups: normal control group, MI with no medication group (MI was induced by coronary artery ligation), MI l-nitro arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME) group (hypertensive infarcted group), and aliskiren-treated MI l-NAME group. Model of HF: animals were classified into the following groups: normal control group, HF group (isoprenaline-induced HF), and aliskiren-treated HF group. Results Model of MI: aliskiren reduced blood pressure significantly when compared with the MI l-NAME group. It also improved cardiac enzymes (troponin and creatine phosphokinase-MB), ECG changes (heart rate and T-wave voltage), and infarction size when compared with the MI with no medication group and the MI l-NAME group (infarcted groups). Model of HF: it was found that aliskiren significantly reduced blood pressure when compared with the control group. It also significantly reduced heart rate and improved ejection fraction and histopathological changes of the heart compared with the HF group. Conclusion In this study, aliskiren had antihypertensive effects. It also could have a protective effect against MI and improve HF.