Effect of probiotic strains, L-arginine and carvedilol on myocardial infarction size in systemic inflammation in rats

Aim. To determine the cardioprotective effect of a mixture of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis (BB-12) in rats with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in comparison with the use of α- and β-adrenoblocker carvedilol and L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide (NO). Materials and methods. Experiments were conducted on male Wistar rats in a model of SIRS including obesity and chemically induced colitis. Probiotic strains (PRK), L-arginine (ARG), and the α- and β-adrenoblocker carvedilol (ADB) were intragastrically administered to animals of the corresponding groups. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was reproduced in an isolated heart perfusion model. The size of the necrosis zone (SNZ) was determined using histochemistry. The concentration of cytokines in blood plasma was measured using an immunoenzyme technique. Results. Myocardial SNZ in the group with SIRS modeling was significantly higher than in the control group (45 (38; 48)% and 30 (26; 31)%, p < 0.05) . In the PRK and ARG groups, the SNZ was 32 (28; 35)% and 35 (26; 36)%, respectively, which was significantly lower compared to the SIRS group ( p < 0.05). In the ADB group, the SNZ was 40 (31; 48)%, similar to the value in the SIRS group ( p > 0.05). Hemodynamic parameters in isolated heart did not differ between the groups. The concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and transforming growth factor-β in plasma was significantly higher in the SIRS group than in the control. At the same time, in the PRK and ARG groups there was a significant decrease in the levels of some cytokines, confirming the presence of anti-inflammatory effect. Conclusion. Administration of PRK in rats with the model of SIRS caused a decrease in SNZ. At the same time, blockade of α- and β-adrenoreceptors was not accompanied by a decrease in SNZ in this model. The amino acid L-arginine had similar to the PRK group cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effect, which may indicate the similarity of the tested effects.