Protection against myocardial infarction

This study investigated the protective effect of betaine on changes in the levels of lysosomal enzymes and lipid peroxidation in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats, an animal model of myocardial infarction in man. Male albino Wistar rats were pretreated with betaine (250 mg/kg body weight) daily for a period of 30 days. After the treatment period, isoprenaline (11 mg/100 g body weight) was intraperitoneally administered to rats at intervals of 24 h for 2 days.

In isoprenaline-injected rats, the activities of plasma lysosomal enzymes (beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase) increased significantly (p < 0.05), but activities decreased in heart tissue. Also, the level of lipid peroxidation was higher in heart lysosomes of isoprenaline-injected rats. Pretreatment with betaine prevented the changes in the activities of these lysosomal enzymes. Thus, the results show that betaine protects the lysosomal membrane against isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction. The observed effects might be due to the free radical-scavenging and membrane-stabilizing properties of betaine.

Ganesan and Anandan (2009). "Protective effect of betaine on changes in the levels of lysosomal enzyme activities in heart tissue in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats." Cell Stress Chaperones. March 18 Epub.