Oxytocin Hormone Administration Attenuates Cardiac Oxidative Injury and Inflammation in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Aims: Oxytocin (OT) hormone has been recently recognized as a cardiovascular hormone with diverse regulatory roles. The present study examined the potential protective effect of exogenous OT administration on hypercholesterolemia-induced injury in rat heart and possible mechanisms involved.

Methodology: Hypercholesterolemia was induced in adult male albino rats fed high cholesterol diet 2% either with or without daily subcutaneous injection of OT (1.6 µg/kg body weight/day) for 8 weeks. Serum parameters included; Serum lipid profile, C-reactive protein, cardiac injury markers including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were measured. Cardiac tissue parameters included malondialdehyde (MDA), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) contents.

Results: Hypercholesterolemic rats showed marked dyslipidemia, significantly high serum levels of C-reactive protein, LDH and CK. Cardiac tissue samples showed enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation in terms of increased MDA and TNF-α alongside decreased TAC and NO contents. OT–treated animals exhibited significantly lower serum C-reactive protein, LDH and CK levels but without significant change in serum lipids. Cardiac tissue samples showed significantly lower MDA and TNF-α alongside significantly higher TAC and NO contents.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate a potent cardioprotective effect of OT hormone against hypercholesterolemia-induced cardiac injury probably via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.