Effects of CAPE on biochemical, histopathological and cardiac parameters in doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity

In this study, the protective effect of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity was investigated by evaluating oxidative stress parameters, ECG changes, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) gene expression, troponin I level and histopathology in Wistar Albino rats.

Forty rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10) including control (saline (vehicle for DOX) and 2.5% ethanol (vehicle for caffeic acid phenethyl ester), CAPE only (10 µmol/kg bw), DOX only (10 mg/kg bw) and CAPE+DOX groups. Molecular, biochemical and histopathological analyses were performed on blood and heart tissues.

No alterations were observed in oxidative stress parameters and MMP-2 gene expression of DOX and CAPE+DOX groups compared to control. Troponin I levels were higher in DOX and CAPE+DOX groups than in the control. Variable ECG changes were observed in the experimental groups such as increased systolic blood pressure, decreased QRS and QT interval in DOX group compared to the control without any ameliorative effect of CAPE. The presence of dense degenerative cardiomyocytes in the myocardium of the DOX group was noted. DOX caused damage to cardiomyocytes. It was observed that CAPE showed a significant decrease in histopathological changes and histopathological scoring in the CAPE+DOX group compared to DOX group.

CAPE treatment ameliorated histopathological changes induced by DOX while other parameters including oxidative stress, MMP-2 gene expression, Troponin I and ECG studied in our study were not altered remarkably.