A synergistic protective effect of selenium and taurine against experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats

This study investigated the protective effect of subacute pre-adminsitration of either selenium (Se), taurine (Tau), or both drugs in combination against experimentally induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats and illustrates the possible mechanisms of action. While solely pre-administration of Se or Tau resulted in partial amelioration in all of the measured parameters in MI rats, concomitant administration of both drugs to MI rats significantly restored contractility function by increasing LVSP and decreasing LVEDP and significantly normalized serum levels of LDH, CK-MB and BNP and restored normal cardiac architecture. This concomitant treatment acted by increasing the activity of major antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx), decreasing the levels of inflammatory markers including TNF-α, IL-6 as well as levels of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 and downregulating mRNA levels of Bax and P53, markers of apoptosis. In conclusion, a combination of Se and Tau provides a new strategy to alleviate MI-induced cardiac dysfunction.