Background: Preventing mitochondrial dysfunction is a crucial therapeutic approach to ameliorate injury following acute myocardial infarction. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in the medical field. No research has yet investigated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the protection of mitochondrial dysregulation in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI) rats.

Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of five rats. AgNPs and AgNO3 were administered orally at a dose of 2.5 mg/kgBW for 14 days. MI was induced on day 13 using ISO 85 mg/kgBW subcutaneously administered twice, with the second dose administered 24 hours after the first dose. Blood and tissue samples were taken 24 hours after the last dose of ISO.

Results : AgNPs showed a cardioprotective effect as seen from the decrease in biochemical markers of cardiac toxicity, namely creatine kinase isoenzymes (339 U/L Vs 118 U/L, p < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (2420 U/L Vs 1820 U/L, p < 0.05). In addition, the increase in plasma and cardiac tissue MDA levels in response to ISO induction was significantly decreased. AgNPs decreased BNP levels that had been increased after acute MI induction. AgNPs caused TFAM and PGC-1α overexpression activities in post-MI heart (Tfam p < 0.05, PGC-1α, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that AgNPs have a better cardioprotective effect against mitochondrial dysregulation induced by ISO, and some of the mechanisms involved in AgNPs need to be clarified in future studies.