WSEAS Transactions on Biology and Biomedicine
Print ISSN: 1109-9518, E-ISSN: 2224-2902
Volume 20, 2023
Cardioprotection by methylene Blue Against Epinephrine-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmias and Myocardial Injury
Authors: , , ,
Abstract: Methylene blue is used in the treatment of vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery, anaphylaxis,
and septic shock refractory to epinephrine and fluid resuscitation. In this study, we investigated the potential
protective effect of methylene blue on the development of cardiac arrhythmias after injection of epinephrine in
rats. Methylene blue was given intraperitoneally at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg. Cardiac arrhythmia was then
induced with 10 μg/kg of epinephrine intravenously. In untreated, control rats, epinephrine caused bradycardia
(96.48 ± 1.06 vs. 365.03 ± 0.68 beats/min), increased PR interval (0.54 ± 0.04 vs. 0.039 ± 0.004), RR interval
(0.64 ± 0.003 vs. 0.16 ± 0.004 sec), shortened QTc interval (0.067 ± 0.05 vs. 0.1 ± 0.004 sec), increased QRS
duration (0.048 ± 0.005 vs. 0.028 ± 0.002 sec), decreased R wave amplitude (0.3 ± 0.03 vs. 0.49 ± 0.04 mv),
decreased the height of the ST segment (-0.0696 ± 0.004 vs. -0.0054 ± 0.003 mv), and caused ventricular
extrasystoles (7.92 ± 0.56 vs. 0.5 ± 0.5). Methylene blue given at 50 or 100 mg/kg increased the heart rate,
decreased RR interval, QRS duration and the drop in the ST height, increased duration of QTc interval and R
wave amplitude and decreased the number of extrasystoles. The histological study showed that methylene blue
protected against myocardial structural disorganization, cellular damage, necrosis, and haemorrhage between
muscle fibres induced by epinephrine injection. We conclude that methylene blue dose-dependently prevented
epinephrine-induced arrhythmias and cardiac muscle injury.
Search Articles
Pages: 64-72
DOI: 10.37394/23208.2023.20.7