Effect of vitamin E on the severity of myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol

The effect of vitamin E administration on the severity of myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol on rats was studied. Judging from serum enzyme activity (CPK 714 micromoles; GOT 291.7 micromoles; and GPT 155.5 micromoles), mortality rate (60 to 65% survived) and histopathological observation, vitamin E has been observed to offer very little protection to the myocardium during experimental myocardial infarction when compared to control animals given isoproterenol alone (CPK 775.8 micromoles; GOT 336.2 micromoles; and GPT 168 micromoles), mortality rate (60 to 65% survived) and histopathological observation (more or less similar). The level of lipid peroxides namely hydroperoxides (control 3.15; vitamin E + iso. 14.8); conjugated diene (4.45 and 6.85) and malondialdehyde (1.22 and 2.55) in the heart were higher in the vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol when compared to control animals given vitamin E alone. The level of cholesterol and phospholipid was more or less similar in the control animals given vitamin E alone (183.6 and 3.12) and vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol (170.25 and 2.49), but the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid was higher in the vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol when compared to control animals given vitamin E alone.