Stobadine protects isoproterenol-induced toxic damage in rats

The pyridoindole stobadine (STO) is an effective cardioprotective drug with oxygen free radical scavenging properties. Isoproterenol (IPN), a syntheti c catecholamine, is capable to induce massive myocardial necrosis accompani ed with lysosomal enzyme (LE) activity changes in most mammals, when admini stered in high doses. The present study investigated the ability of STO to protect experimental animals against IPN-induced toxic damage. The activiti es of the lysosomal enzymes cathepsin D and N-acetyl-beta -D-glucosaminidas e were studied in the rat heart as markers of cell damage. Male Wistar rats weighing 280-300g were used for these experiments. IPN-induced toxic damag e in rats (9 h after administration 50 mg.kg(-1) s.c.) was manifested by ma rked alterations in the activities of LE in the sedimentable fraction of th e rat myocardium. STO administered in various dosage regimens reduced or el iminated the IPN-induced biochemical changes in the rat myocardium. From th e results presented in this study we conclude that STO is able to protect r ats against IPN-induced toxic damage.