The effect of different digoxin concentrations on heart tissue and antioxidant status in iron-overloaded rats

BACKGROUND: Thalassaemia is a hereditary disorder and has an economic burden on patients and the government. The most prevalent complication in these patients is iron overload which is followed by cardiomyopathy. Digoxin is considered as a treatment against heart failure in thalassaemia. The present study evaluated the effect of two digoxin concentrations on iron content and antioxidative defense in cardiac tissue of iron-overloaded rats.METHODS: The study was conducted on ۴۸ rats which were divided into ۶ groups. Group ۱ was the control group and did not receive any treatment and group ۲ was the iron overload group. In addition groups ۳ and ۴ were the digoxin control groups which received ۱ and ۵ mg/kg/day of digoxin, respectively. Groups ۵ and ۶ received ۱ and ۵ mg/kg/day of digoxin plus iron-dextran, respectively. After ۱ month, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were assessed in cardiac tissues.RESULTS: Co-administration of iron-dextran and digoxin (۱ and ۵ mg/kg/day) significantly increased SOD and TAS levels (P < ۰.۰۰۱۰) and reduced MDA (P < ۰.۰۰۱۰) in heart tissue compared to control and iron overload groups. GPX levels significantly reduced in groups ۵ and ۶ (iron + digoxin ۱ (P < ۰.۰۵۰۰) and iron + digoxin ۵) (P < ۰.۰۰۱۰) compared to the iron control group.CONCLUSION: Digoxin remarkably facilitates iron uptake by cardiomyocytes by affecting other channels such as L-type and T-type Ca۲+ channels (LTCC and TTCC). Digoxin administration in the iron-overloaded rat model deteriorated antioxidative parameters and increased iron entry into heart tissue at higher doses. Therefore, in patients with beta thalassaemia major, digoxin must be administered with great care and serum iron and ferritin must be regularly monitored.

کلیدواژه ها:

Digoxin ، Iron Overload ، Superoxide Dismutase ، Glutathione Peroxidase