Changes in ECG and enzyme activity in rat heart after myocardial infarction: effect of TPP and MnCl2

Heart infarction is one of the main causes of death in the human population. Assurance of a sufficient level of bioenergetic processes is very important for the heart after infarction. Mn²⁺ as well as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) are positive effectors of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) and the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDH), both of which play a very important role in the Krebs cycle. Thus, we have established the effect of MnCl₂ (10mg/kg) and TPP (20mg/kg)-4 injections every 12 h-on the activity of PDH, OGDH, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Additionally, we perform an analysis of ECG to affirm the changes in the heart electrophysiology of healthy rats after MnCl₂ and TPP treatment. We then analyzed changes in the activity of these enzymes after experimental myocardial infarction in rats. We observed a decrease of OGDH and MDH activity in rat hearts after infarction in comparison, with sham-operated rats. Treatment of healthy rats with MnCl₂ caused an increase of OGDH activity. Moreover both MnCl₂ and TPP caused an increase of PDH activity and a decrease of MDH activity (TPP revealed a stronger effect). We found no changes in LDH activity. Electrocardiography data showed a slight shortening of the QT interval and an enhanced heartbeat rate after treatment with MnCl₂. TPP caused only elongation of the QT interval. In conclusion, application of MnCl₂ enhanced the activity of some very important enzymes in the respiration process (PDH and OGDH). This effect, connected with enhanced heartbeat and a slightly shortened ventricle relaxation, may have potential application during the key period of convalescence following heart infarction.