Effect of leucine in cardiac hypertrophy and serum creatine kinase in rats in experimental hyperthyroidism

Leucine is a regulator of protein metabolism in vivo, and there is little information regarding its action on cardiac hypertrophy induced by experimental hyperthyroidism and its relationship to serum creatine kinase. The study aimed to verify the effect of leucine in cardiac hypertrophy and serum creatine kinase in rats with hyperthyroidism. We used 20 animals were divided into four groups and these control, hormone, hormone + leucine and leucine. Hyperthyroidism was induced by administration of daily 20 mu g/100 grams of levothyroxine sodium in aqueous suspension by gavage. Leucine was supplemented by adding 5% of the amino conventional diet. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and analyzes made in kit CK-NAC, CK-MB and TSH. At the end of the trial period of seven days the hearts were removed and weighed. Subsequently, the left ventricle was separated together with the interventricular septum and weighed. In statistical comparison was used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-way post-Tukey test, considering p values <0.05. Serum concentrations of serum CK-MB were lower in leucine (p <0.05) and hormone + leucine (p <0.05) compared to control. The hormone group, showed greater relative heart weight than the control group (p <0.05) and absolute heart weight greater than hormone + leucine (p