The role of sustained delivery of corticosterone alone or in combination with antioxidants on the cardiovascular system of adult female rats.
Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases, and their side effects can result in hypertension as well as effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have shown the beneficial effects of anti-oxidants to delay the progression of many diseases by eliminating free radical formation. Antioxidants, such as selenium, may have an affect on the cardiovascular systems. The safety and efficiency of these over-the-counter antioxidants have not been fully investigated in vivo. The objective of this study was to supplement, the adult female rats, with the sustained release of cortisol, selenomethionine, and in combination, to evaluate its effect on the cardiovascular and reproductive systems. A total of 16 animals were randomly divided into four equal groups. A total of four animals served as naive controls. Group I animals were supplemented with a TCP capsule containing 50 mg of cortisol. Animals in Group II were supplemented with a TCP capsule containing 50 mg of selenomethionine. Group III animals were supplemented with a TCP capsule containing a combination of 50 mg of cortisol and selenomethionine. Blood and body weights were recorded weekly and at the end of 24 days, hearts were collected and analyzed morphometrically. The results indicated a slight increase in the body weights of cortisol treated animals compared to the control, selenomethionine and combination treated animals. Significant increases were observed in the heart wet weights of cortisol and combination treated animals. Further analysis of the heart showed remarkable changes in the heart apex length in the cortisol treated animals. The results suggest that cortisol caused morphological changes in the heart that may be responsible for the change in the regulation and maintenance of the normal electrical activity of the heart.
University of Mississippi Medical Center and Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Anita K
AK
Winfield
Jeffrey T
JT
Graham
Hamed
H
Benghuzzi
Michelle
M
Tucci
Joseph
J
Cameron
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000975:Antioxidants; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004343:Drug Implants; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D012645:Selenomethionine; C018392:tricalcium phosphate; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone