Effects of alpha lipoic acid on valproic acid induced heart injury in rats

Valproic acid (VPA) is a compound derived from fatty acids and is widely used in the treatment of various neurological disorders. However, its long-term use can lead to tissue damage, particularly in the heart, by increasing the production of free radicals in the body. Chronic exposure to VPA may cause oxidative stress-related damage in cardiac tissue. To prevent such oxidative injury, certain substances with antioxidant properties are utilized. One of these substances is alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a naturally synthesized compound in the body. In this study, the potential protective effect of LA against VPA-induced heart damage was investigated. In our experimental study, Sprague-Dawley rats, 6 months old and weighing approximately 250-350 g, were divided into four groups: Group I: Control group given 1 mL of olive oil for 15 days; Group II: Administered 500 mg/kg dose of VPA (dissolved in olive oil) for 15 days; Group III: Group given only 50 mg/kg dose of LA (dissolved in olive oil) for 15 days; Group IV: Group administered both LA and VPA at the same dose and for 15 days, with LA given first and VPA one hour later. On the 16th day, all animals were sacrificed under appropriate anesthesia, and heart tissues were collected. 10% tissue homogenates were prepared from the heart tissues and biochemical analyses were conducted on the supernatants obtained. In the VPA-treated group, a significant decrease was determined in reduced glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and paraoxonase activities. Conversely, increases were found in lipid peroxidation, sialic acid, and nitric oxide levels, as well as in aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, xanthine oxidase, and adenosine deaminase activities. In the group receiving both VPA and LA, most of these parameters returned to near-normal levels, indicating that LA significantly mitigated the damage. In conclusion, the data obtained in this study suggest that alpha-lipoic acid may exert a protective effect against VPA-induced cardiac damage.