B. Turan et al., Cardiac dysfunction induced by low and high diet antioxidant levels comparing selenium and vitamin E in rats, REGUL TOX P, 29(2), 1999, pp. 142-150
The present study was designed to investigate and compare the effects of di
etary antioxidants on the mechanical characteristics of the rat heart. Both
sex weanling rats were fed for 12 to 14 weeks a standardized selenium (Se)
- and vitamin E-deficient diet, a Se-excess diet, or a control diet. Defici
ency or toxicity of Se was verified by direct (tissue Se analysis and histo
pathological investigations) methods. The hearts of both experimental group
s revealed some alterations in contractile performance with increased heart
rate and coronary perfusion pressure. The average peak contractile force o
f the electrically stimulated papillary muscle measured in both experimenta
l groups was not significantly different from the control values. When expr
essed as a percentage, the maximal increase in the peak contractile force o
f papillary muscle (PCF) that was obtained with 100 nM isoproterenol, respe
ctively, was less in both experimental groups (26% in PCF of deficient grou
p; 34% in PCF of rich group) than in the control group (80% in PCF). A decr
eased stimulation of contractile force of papillary muscle strips by a beta
-adrenergic agonist seems to be in agreement with possible alterations in t
he response to inotropic agents due to a modification of the receptor funct
ion. (C) 1999 Academic Press.