3.1 Absolute and Relative Heart Weight
The absolute and relative heart weights of rats treated orally (by administration with Gavage) with K2Cr2O7 for 21 days are presented, respectively, in Appendix 1. The experimental rats' absolute and relative heart weights indicated no significant difference compared to the Control (p < 0.05). However, a slight increase in the absolute and relative heart weight of groups treated with K2Cr2O7 for 60days was observed compared to the Doxorubicin and Normal (Control) groups for all treatment routes.
3.2 Different doses of K 2 Cr 2 O 7 and Doxorubicin impaired Antioxidant enzymes following acute and chronic exposure to Rats in the Treatment Phases (Phase 1, 2 and 3).
Results presented in Fig. 1 (A, B and C) show that rats exposed to K2Cr2O7 and Dox respectively elicited a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in GPx, CAT, and SOD activities in the treatment phases relative to the control (Group 1).
In phase 1,The SOD activities decreased by 0.89%,10.62%, 24.78% K2Cr2O7 treated Rats, CAT activities also decreased by 30.86%,42.23% and 48.03% in K2Cr2O7 treated rats, likewise, GPx activities decreased by 12.96%, 21.96% and 34.01% in rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively, relative to the normal control animals. Similarly, animals treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox in groups 5 and 6 showed decreased GPx, CAT, and SOD activities. The percentage decreases in the enzyme activities for groups 5 and 6 relative to the control group were 2.65% and 4.24%(SOD), 0.23% and 18.33%(CAT), and 34.4% and 12.55%(GPx).
In the Second phase, the SOD activities decreased by 20%, 22.5%, 39.17% in K2Cr2O7 treated rats, CAT activities also decreased by 19.34%, 30.82% and 45.62% in K2Cr2O7 treated rats. Likewise, GPx activities decreased by 2.70%, 21.95% and 30.62% in Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively relative to the Normal control animals. Similarly, animals that received 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox) in Groups 5 and 6 showed decreased GPx, CAT, and SOD activities by 10.38% and 14.17%, 1.81%, and 9.37%, 5.42%, and 8.40% respectively compared to the enzyme activities recorded for the Normal Control(Group 1).
In the Third Phase, the SOD activities decreased by 2.90%, 11.63%, and 22.67% K2Cr2O7 in treated Rats. CAT activities also decreased by 4.04%, 40%, and 45% in K2Cr2O7 treated rats. Likewise, GPx activities decreased by 26.92%, 35.49% and 38.11% in Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively relative to the normal control animals.
Similarly, animals treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Doxorubicin (Dox) in Groups 5 and 6 decreased the enzyme activities by 30.81% and 32.56% (SOD), 1.21% and 3.24%(CAT), and 27.27% and 27.47% (GPx) compared to the normal Control(Group 1).
3.3 Treating rats with different doses of K2Cr2O7 and Dox induced Oxidative Stress in all the treatment phases (First, Second and Third Phases).
The results presented in Fig. 2 shows the level of MDA investigated in the hearts of the Control, K2Cr2O7, and Dox treated Rats. The Rats that received both K2Cr2O7 and Dox showed a significant increase in MDA levels following the First, Second and Third treatment Phases when compared to the Normal Control, the percentage increase in MDA levels for the Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 was 16.67%, respectively, 63.33%, 90.00%, respectively, in the first phase.
In the second phase, the MDA levels increased significantly by 46%, 151.47%, and 368.38% compared to the levels observed in the Control. Similarly, the percentage increases observed compared to Control for the third treatment phases were 18.55%, 23.39% and 33.87% for 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively.
In the Dox groups (5 and 6), the Rats treated indicated similar spike increases (p < 0.05) in the levels of MDA compared to the levels observed in the Control. The percentage increases were 3.33% and 40% (First Phase), 2.21% and 27.94%(Second phase), and 26.61% and 28.23% (Third Phase) for Rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox treated groups respectively.
3.4 Rats treated with different doses of K2Cr2O7 and Dox showed increased Cardiac markers (AST, LDH, and CK-MB) activities in the first treatment phase.
Results presented in Fig. 3 (A, B and C) show that rats exposed to K2Cr2O7 and Dox respectively elicited a significant (p < 0.05) increase in AST, LDH, and CK-MB activities in the treatment phases relative to the control (Group 1).
In the phase 1, AST results indicated 22.53%, 37.56%, and 64.39% increases in enzyme activities. LDH activities also increased by 55.24%, 73.82%, and 116.10%. Also, CK-MB activities followed the increasing trend by 16.46%, 45.60%, and 87.63% for Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7, respectively, when compared to the Control group. Similarly, the rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox in groups 5 and 6 indicated increased AST, LDH, and CK-MB activities. The percentage increases in activities for groups 5 and 6 compared to the control group were 2.65% and 4.24% (AST), 0.23% and 18.33%(LDH), and 34.4% and 12.55%(CK-MB).
In the second phase, the AST results indicated 30.76%, 38.73%, and 93.56% increases in enzyme activities. LDH activities also increased by 34.37%, 47.17%, and 70.25%. Also, CK-MB activities followed the increasing trend by 33.15%, 58.80%, and 101.12% for Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7, respectively, when compared to the Normal group. Likewise, the rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Doxorubicin(Dox) in groups 5 and 6, respectively, indicated increases in AST, LDH, and CK-MB activities. The percentage increases in activities for groups 5 and 6 compared to the control group were 5.28% and 4.56%(AST), 38.33% and 56.43%(LDH), and 9.71% and 18.13%(CK-MB).
In the third phase, the AST results indicated 12.35%, 25.20%, and 33.89% increases in enzyme activities. LDH activities also increased by 3.56%, 10.32%, and 13.48%. Also, CK-MB activities followed the increasing trend by 8.55%, 25.48%, and 101.12% for Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7, respectively, when compared to the Normal group.
Similarly, the rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Doxorubicin (Dox) in groups 5 and 6, respectively, showed elevated levels of AST, LDH, and CK-MB activities. The percentage increases in activities for groups 5 and 6 compared to the control group were 5.28% and 4.56% (AST), 38.33% and 56.43%(LDH), and 9.71% and 18.13%(CK-MB).
3.5 Rats treated with different doses of K2Cr2O7 and Dox increased Cardiac Troponin-I(CTnI) levels in all the treatment phases(First, Second and Third Phases).
The results in Fig. 4 shows the levels of CTnI investigated in the hearts of the Control, K2Cr2O7, and Dox−treated Rats with a significant increase in CTnI levels in all the treatment Phases. The percentage increase in CTnI levels for the Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 compared to the Normal Control was 29.18%, 35.01%, 38.91% for the first phases.
In the second phase, the CTnI levels increased significantly by 63.76%, 65.07%, and 71.62% compared to the levels observed in the Control. Also, the percentage increases observed compared to Control for the third treatment phase were 2.28%, 3.33% and 9.52% for 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively.
In the Dox groups(5 and 6), the Rats treated indicated similar increases(p < 0.05) in the levels of CTnI compared to the levels observed in the Control. The percentage increases were 4.67% and 15.57% (First Phase), 20.09% and 10.48%(Second phase), and 3.81% and 4.77% (Third phase) for Rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox treated groups respectively.
3.6 Rats treated with different doses of K 2 Cr 2 O 7 and Dox indicated increased C-Reactive Proteins (CRP) in all the treatment phases (First, Second and Third Phases).
Results presented in Fig. 5 shows spikes in C- Reactive Protein levels compared to Control, K2Cr2O7, and Dox treated Rats. The percentage increase in CRP levels for the Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 compared to the normal Control were 35.62%, 45.21%, 82.19% for the first phases. In the second phase, the CRP levels increased significantly by 113%, 229%, and 300% compared to the observed control values.
Also, the percentage increases observed compared to Control for the third treatment phases were 2.56%, 9.29% and 18.27% for 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 respectively. In the Dox groups(5 and 6), the Rats treated indicated similar spike increases(p < 0.05) in the levels of CRP compared to the levels observed in the Control. The percentage increases were 23.28% and 23.29% (First Phase), 38% and 114%(Second phase), and 2.56% and 7.05% (Third phase) for Rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox treated groups respectively.
3.7 Different doses of K2Cr2O7 and Dox inhibited Nitric Oxide levels in the heart of treated Rats in all phases(First, Second and Third Phases).
Results presented on Fig. 6 shows decreases in the levels of NO availability in the hearts of K2Cr2O7 and Dox-treated rats compared to the Control. The percentage decrease in NO levels for the Rats treated with 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7 compared to the normal Control were 4.65%, 18.61%, 27.91% for the first phase. Conversely, in the second phase, NO indicated an increase of 31.7%, 41.7%, and 76.8% compared to the Control.
Also, percentage increases were observed compared to control for the third treatment phases were as follows: 385%, 885% and 1200% for 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, and 30mg/kg K2Cr2O7, respectively. The NO levels in Dox groups (5 and 6) in the first phase indicated a slight decrease compared to control levels. In contrast, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the levels of NO in the second and third phases compared to the Control. The percentage decreases were 2.31% and 4.65% (First Phase), while the percentage increase was 19.5% and 1.22% (Second phase), and 750% and 1115% (Third Phase) for Rats treated with 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg Dox treated groups respectively.
3.8: The effect of administering K2Cr2O7 and Doxorubicin intraperitoneal injection on the myocardial histoarchitecture of animals treated in the first phase (H&E X400) representative photomicrographs followed by light microscopy are indicated as follows:
Histopathology result shows Alphabeths a-f representing various photomicrographs of the treatment groups in phase one (21 days). (a) depicts Control rats that received an equal volume of normal drinking water orally for 21 consecutive days, (b) Rats that received oral administration of 10 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 21 consecutive days, (c) Rats that received oral administration of 20 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 21 consecutive days, (d) Rats that received oral administration of 30 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 21 consecutive days, (e)15 mg/kg body weight doxorubicin (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally,(f)20 mg/kg body weight doxorubicin (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally.
3.9 Effect of K2Cr2O7 and Doxorubicin in phase 2 histopthology results H and E X400, representative photomicrographs followed by light microscopy are indicated as follows:
Fig 8 shows Alphabeths g-l representing various photomicrographs of the treatment groups in phase one(60 days). (g) Control rats that received an equal volume of normal drinking water orally for 60 consecutive days, (h) rats that received oral administration of 10 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 60 consecutive days, (i) Rats that received oral administration of 20 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 60 consecutive days, (j) Rats that received oral administration of 30 mg/kg body weight of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound for 60 consecutive days, (k) Rats given 15 mg/kg body weight doxorubicin (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally,(l) rats given 20 mg/kg body weight doxorubicin (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally.
3.10: Effect of K2Cr2O7 and Doxorubicin in phase 3 on the myocardial histoarchitecture of animals treated in the Third phase using the H&E staining E X400, representative photomicrographs followed by light microscopy are indicated as follows:
The effect of treatment groups was represented using Alphabeths m-r on Fig. 9 shows m Control rats fed a standard pellet diet and received an equal volume of distilled water, n shows Rats given 0.01% of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound in feed, i.e., 10mg/kg of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound per Kg Bodyweight in 100g of Rat feed for 60 days, o shows Rats given 0.02% of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound in feed, i.e., 20mg/kg of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound per Kg Bodyweight in 100g of Rat feed for 60 days, p shows Rats given 0.03% of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound in feed, i.e., 30mg/kg of K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)] compound per kg Bodyweight in 100g of Rat feed for 60 days, q shows Rats given 15 mg/kg body weight Dox (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally, r shows Rats given 20 mg/kg body weight doxorubicin (2 days prior to sacrifice) administered intraperitoneally.