The electrocardiographic assessment of the effect of paracetamol and celecoxib on the heart condition in rats with acute heat injury
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24959/nphj.25.181Keywords:
heat injury; thermoprotective effect; paracetamol; celecoxib; cardiovascular system; electrocardiogram.Abstract
Aim. To compare the effects of paracetamol and celecoxib on electrocardiographic indicators of the heart function under conditions of acute heat injury.
Materials and methods. The acute heat injury model was reproduced in 32 male white rats kept in a thermostat at +55 °C for 30 min. The animals were divided into four groups: intact control, control pathology, rats treated with paracetamol (125 mg/kg), and rats receiving celecoxib (8.4 mg/kg). Two hours after the heat exposure, the electrocardiogram was recorded under thiopental anesthesia to assess the key heart function parameters.
Results. After the heat exposure, all rats exhibited hyperthermia, which was the most pronounced in the control pathology group. Paracetamol and celecoxib significantly reduced the severity of hyperthermia. In the control pathology group, against the background of the sinus rhythm, the QT interval significant prolongation was observed, indicating an increased risk of arrhythmias, along with an elevated systolic index, suggesting a decreased myocardial contractility. Both drugs do not affect the heart’s pacemaker, do not disrupt the atrioventricular conduction and the heart rate. The use of paracetamol significantly reduced the duration of the QRS complex, normalized the QT interval, and eliminated the increase in the systolic index, while celecoxib effectively improved myocardial contractility, but prolonged the QT interval, which could increase the risk of arrhythmias in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases. Paracetamol has advantages over celecoxib as а thermoprotector in terms of reducing the risk of arrhythmias, particularly in patients with the history of the prolonged QT interval.
Conclusions. In acute heat injury, celecoxib and paracetamol effectively reduce hyperthermia and normalize impaired cardiac contractility. Рaracetamol as a thermoprotective agent may have advantages over celecoxib in terms of the safety of myocardial electrophysiological parameters, particularly by avoiding the QT interval prolongation.
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