Abstract

INHIBITION OF ?-SMA, Bax AND INCREASE OF Bcl-2 EXPRESSION IN MYOCARDIOCYTES AS RESPONSE TO CHITOSAN ADMINISTRATION TO HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RATS

*Amal Attia El-Morsy Ibrahim

ABSTRACT

Hypercholesterolemia (HPC) cause biochemical alteration in lipid profile, disturbances in cardiac tissue, immunohistochemical expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Bax were induced; while Bcl-2 expression was decreased. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the protective effect of chitosan (COS) in HPC rats by feeding on high fat diet for one month. Biochemical studies of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL perceived high values and diminution in HDL levels in serum. Induced histopathological lesions in the cardiomyocytes was represented by detached muscle fibres, deposition of fats and presence of fibrotic areas; occupied by lymphocytes, macrophage and increase in the collagen fibres distribution throughout the cardiac tissue. COS supplementation to HPC rats, produced a counteractive effect on HPC rats, represented in the compensation of biochemical alteration and amended histological picture, and decrease in α-SMA and Bax expression and increase in Bcl-2 expression in the cardiac tissue. These findings were attributed to the significant inhibitory effect of COS remedy adjoining deleterious effects of HPC.

Keywords: ?-SMA, Bax, Bcl-2, Chitosan, Hypocholesterolemia.