Cardioprotective effect of vitamin D and melatonin on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rat model: an electrocardiographic, scintigraphic and biochemical study
Methods: In this study, forty-nine adult male Wistar albino rats (220 ± 15 g) were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 7 each), namely control (CON, n = 7), doxorubicin (DOX, n = 7), melatonin (MEL, n = 7), vitamin D (Vit D, n = 7), doxorubicin plus melatonin (DOX+MEL, n = 7), doxorubicin plus vitamin D (DOX+Vit D, n = 7), and doxorubicin plus melatonin and vitamin D (DOX+MEL+Vit D, n = 7) groups. Cardiotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of DOX (18 mg/kg, i.p.) on the 15th, 16th and 17th days. Rats receiving vitamin D and melatonin treatment in the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity group received vitamin D (60,000 IU/kg, i.p.) were administered in a single dose and melatonin (40 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 17 days and were injected with (18 mg/kg, i.p.) on doxorubicin 15th, 16th, and 17th days. On the 18th day electrocardiography (ECG), 99mTechnetium pyrophosphate scintigraphy and biochemical parameters were assessed.
Results: DOX caused changes in the ECG pattern, a significant decrease in heartbeat (p < 0.01), P wave (p < 0.001) and QRS complex durations (p < 0.001), R wave amplitude (p < 0.001); elevation in ST-segment (p < 0.001) and decrease in QT interval (p < 0,001), and R-R interval durations (p < 0.001); increase in the serum levels of cardiac injury markers (CK, BUN, cardiac troponin T), (p < 0.01), and increased 99mTechnetium pyrophosphate uptake (p < 0.001) as compared to the CON group. MEL, Vit D and MEL+Vit D administration showed a same protective effect against DOX-induced altered ECG pattern. Pre-treatment with MEL, Vit D and MEL+Vit D significantly protected the heart from the toxic effect of DOX, by decreasing the levels of of cardiac injury markers (CK, BUN, cardiac troponin T) (p < 0.001) and decreased the elevated level of 99mTechnetium pyrophosphate uptake (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Vitamin D and melatonin treatment prevented all the parameters of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
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Article Information
- Article Type Research Article
- Submitted February 21, 2026
- Published July 3, 2019
- Issue Vol. 5 No. 4 (2019)
- Section Research Article
