Tag Archives: alcohol intoxication

Biomarkers of apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in cardiomyocytes of rats under chronic ethanol consumption and germanium-nicotinic acid complex administration

I. V. Nizhenkovska1, O. V. Kuznetsova1,
V. P. Narokha1, D. O. Labudzynskyi2*

1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology,
Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine;
2Department of Vitamins and Coenzyme Biochemistry,
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: labudzinskidmytro@gmail.com

Received: 11 November 2024; Revised: 03 February 2025;
Accepted: 21 February 2025; Available on-line: 03 March 2025

Chronic ethanol consumption is associated with a range of harmful effects on different systems of the body, including the heart. Coordination complexes of bioactive compounds based on non-toxic metals are attracting interest in biomedical research due to their potential therapeutic properties. The study aimed to evaluate­ the influence of the germanium-nicotinic acid complex (MIGU-1) on apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress indicators in the myocardium of rats under chronic alcohol exposure. Female Wistar rats were divided into three groups of 6 animals each: intact animals; rats that received 20% ethanol as the sole source of liquid for 110 days; animals with chronic consumption of 20% ethanol, which from the 90th day until the end of the experiment were intraperitoneally administered MIGU-1 solution (10 mg/kg/day). Biomarkers related to apoptosis, ER stress autophagy were assessed by Western blot analysis. It was shown that chronic ethanol consumption significantly activated apoptotic pathways in rat myocardium tissue, evidenced by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and BAX proteins alongside Beclin-1 level elevation, indicating enhanced autophagy. A significant decrease in the content of the protein IRE1 and its phosphorylated form in myocardial with no changes in GRP78 protein level was detected. Treatment with MIGU-1 resulted in both ethanol-induced apoptosis reduction and ER stress attenuation in cardiomyocytes with the level of Beclin-1 and GRP78 proteins remaining unchanged. Our findings demonstrate that the MIGU-1 complex promotes cardiomyocyte survival by balancing apoptosis and unfolded protein response, thus preventing alcohol-related­ cardiac injury.

Biochemical parameters of blood and tissue of the gastrocnemius muscle in chronically alcoholized rats under oral administration of C(60) fullerene aqueous solution

O. Motuziuk1,2, D. Nozdrenko2, S. Prylutska3,
K. Bogutska2, O. Korotkyi2, Yu. Prylutskyy2*

1Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine;
2Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: prylut@ukr.net;
3National University of Life and Environmental Science of Ukraine, Kyiv

Received: 17 March 2023; Revised: 01 May 2023;
Accepted: 05 June 2023; Available on-line:  20 June 2023

Biochemical indices of blood and tissue of the gastrocnemius muscle chronically alcoholized (for 3, 6 and 9 months) rats were studied. С60 fullerene aqueous solution (C60FAS) was administered orally as a pharmacological agent at a dose of 1 mg/kg daily throughout the experiment in a three routes: 1 h before alcohol intake (preventive regimen), together with alcohol (therapeutic regimen I) and 1 h after alcohol intake (therapeutic regimen II). Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and the level of creatinine, lactate, hydrogen peroxide, reduced glutathione were estimated with clinical diagnostic kits. A pronounced upward trend in creatinine and lactate content, CPK and LDH activity with increasing degree of alcoholic myopathy during experiment was detected. Administration of C60FAS was shown to reduce the biochemical indices of muscle injury and to reduce oxidative processes by maintaining the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant systems. The maximum positive effect was observed when C60FAS was administered together with alcohol (therapeutic regimen I). The results indicate on C60 fullerene ability to correct the pathological condition of the muscular system arising from alcohol intoxication.