Title:Comparative Efficacy of Levosimendan, Ramipril, and Sacubitril/
Valsartan in Isoproterenol-induced Experimental Heart Failure: A
Hemodynamic and Molecular Approach
Volume: 16
Author(s): Md Sayeed Akhtar, Quamrul Hassan, Obaid Afzal, Abdulmalik Altamimi, Mohd. Zaheen Hassan, Arun Kumar Sharma, Asif Ansari Shaik Mohammad and Fauzia Tabassum*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology,
College of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Buraydah Private College, Al Qassim-51418, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Levosimendan, ramipril, sacubitril/valsartan, myocardial infarction, Ca2+ modulation, myocardial contractility, balancing oxidant-antioxidant system.
Abstract:
Objective: Cardiac ischemia-related myocardial damage has been considered a major
reason for heart failure. We aimed to investigate the role of levosimendan (LEVO) in comparison
to ramipril and sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) in preventing damage associated with isoproterenol
(ISO) induced myocardial infarction.
Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced by injecting subcutaneous isoproterenol (5 mg/kg
once for 7 consecutive days) to establish an experimental heart failure model. Simultaneously,
LEVO (1 mg/kg/day), ramipril (3mg/kg/day) and Sac/Val (68 mg/kg/day) suspension were administered
orally for four weeks.
Results: We observed a significant correlation between ISO-induced ischemia with cardiac remodeling
and alterations in myocardial architecture. LEVO, ramipril, and Sac/Val significantly
prevented lipid peroxidation and damaged antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase,
glutathione and thioredoxin reductase. We also observed their ameliorative effects in myocardium's
cardiac hypertrophy, evidenced by reduced heart weight to body weight ratio and
transforming growth factor β related collagen deposition. LEVO, ramipril, and Sac/Val also
maintained cardiac biomarkers like lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB, brain natriuretic
peptide and cardiac Troponin-I, indicating reduced myocardial damage that was further demonstrated
by histopathological examination. Decreased sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum
Ca2+ATPase2a and sodium-calcium exchanger-1 protein depletion after LEVO, ramipril, and
Sac/Val administration indicated improved Ca2+ homeostasis during myocardial contractility.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that LEVO has comparable effects to ramipril, and Sac/Val in
preventing myocardial damage via balancing oxidant-antioxidant system, decreased collagen
deposition, reduced myocardial stress as well as improved Ca2+ homeostasis during myocardial
contractility.