Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of diazepam on the cardiac muscle of adult albino rat and the possible role of garlic

Introduction Diazepam is a drug that belongs to a group of pharmacological agents called benzodiazepines. Several studies have indicated that diazepam exerts a myocardial depressant effect. Garlic preparations have been used widely for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. Aim of the work This work aimed to study the effect of diazepam on the cardiac muscle of adult albino rat and the possible role of garlic as a protective agent. Materials and methods Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four equal groups: control group, garlic-treated group (250mg/kg body weight), diazepam-treated group (1mg/kg body weight), and both garlic and diazepam-treated group. The animals were treated orally daily for 4 weeks. Specimens from the cardiac muscle were processed for light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical study was carried out using an antibody against vimentin. Results Specimens from diazepam-treated animals showed focal disruption of cardiac myocytes, peripheral deeply stained nuclei, and vacuolated sarcoplasm. Focal aggregation of mononuclear cells and dilated congested blood vessels were also observed in between the myocytes. Ultrastructurally, irregular indented nuclei, focal lysis of the myofibrils, loss of normal cross striations, swelling of mitochondria, and distortion of intercalated disks were also observed. Immunohistochemical study showed a highly significant increase in vimentin immunoreaction in the endomysial and perimysial sheaths, in the walls of blood vessels, and in some interstitial cells. In contrast, minimal changes were observed in rats treated concomitantly with both garlic and diazepam, with a non significant increase in the immunoreaction. Conclusion Diazepam induced structural changes in rat cardiac muscle that could be ameliorated by concomitant treatment with garlic.