Antioxidative and Cardioprotective Effects of Minocycline in Ischemia/reperfusion Injury in Experimental Model of Hypertension

Purpose: Cardiovascular diseases remains leading cause of death and disabilities. Coronary artery occlusion and consequent ischemia leads to acute myocardial infarction, but restoration of blood flow provokes further myocardial damage known as reperfusion injury. Minocycline is possessing anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activity, immune-modulating and antioxidative properties besides its primary antibacterial effect. Recently it gained significant interest in preventing cardiac damage especially due to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). The aim of this study was to assess protective ability of preconditioning and postconditioning of isolated hearts from healthy and spontaneously hypertensive rats with minocycline, on functional recovery and redox status after MI/RI using Langendorff technique. Methods: Using sensor in left ventricle, the cardiodynamic parameters were recorded and in the samples of the coronary venous effluent oxidative stress biomarkers were analyzed. Minocycline was injected directly into the coronary vessels, in preconditioning 5 min before global ischemia, and in postconditioning during the first 5 min of reperfusion. Results: Changes in redox balance induced by minocycline were more pronounced in postconditioning fashion of application. Cardioprotective effects of minocycline due to MI/RI are even more pronounced in hypertensive hearts. Conclusion: Minocycline showed significant cardioprotective effects, which was more pronounced in hypertensive compared to healthy hearts. Reduction of pro-oxidative biomarkers was more pronounced in hypertensive hearts compared to the normotensive, especially if it is applied in the form of post-conditioning. The fact that better effects are achieved during postconditioning is particularly important, bearing in mind that it is not possible to predict the occurrence of a heart attack.