Fig. 1a
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 1b
Serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 1c
Serum lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 1d
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 1e
Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 2
Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in cardiac tissue from rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Table 1
Quantitative data on the cardiac tissue antioxidant enzymes in rats treated with cadmium and BIS (2 and 8 mg/kg/day)
| Parameter | Control | Cadmium | BIS (2 mg/kg) | BIS (8 mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOD (unit of SOD/g tissue) | 41.5 ± 3.67 | 19.81 ± 0.67 *** | 21.1 ± 3.12 # | 36.76 ± 1.89 ** |
| CAT (mmol/min/g tissue) | 3.32 ± 1.64 | 2.897 ± 0.34 *** | 2.521 ± 0.22 # | 3.167 ± 0.289 ** |
| LPO (nmol hydroperoxides/g tissue) | 894.3 ± 14.61 | 1639 ± 56.23 *** | 1556.5 ± 45.23# | 823.8 ± 18.13** |
[i] Values are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. *** P < 0.0001 for significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant decrease in SOD, CAT and LPO levels after treatment with BIS at 8 mg/kg/day versus the Cd treated group
Fig. 3
Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) from cardiac tissue of rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significant difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significant difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 4a
Cardiac tissue homogenate NF-κB- p65/β-actin expression from Western blot analysis in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significance difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significance difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 4b
Cardiac tissue homogenate GST/β-actin expression from Western blot analysis in rats treated with cadmium and bisoprolol (BIS) (2 and 8 mg/kg/day). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *** P < 0.0001 for significance difference versus the control group; ** P < 0.001 for significance difference versus the Cd-treated group (using one-way ANOVA, including Dunnett’s test)
Fig. 5
Effect of bisoprolol on cadmium-induced cardiotoxicity. I – the control group showing normally preserved cardiac muscle architecture; II – the cadmium-treated group showing subendocardial necrosis with no muscle striations, pyknotic nuclei and vascular congestion; III – the cadmium and 2 mg/kg BIS-treated group showing moderate improvement with congestion and no muscle striations; IV – the cadmium and 8 mg/kg BIS-treated group showing marked improvement with mild congestion